Adventures With Ladies: roger (Border Collie,1988-2003) for Janet Poem by Geoffrey Winch

With Auntie(Warwickshire)

We drove - only to have a look at you - just the few miles down the Fosse Way to the farm where you'd been born but, with our cheque book at the ready, we knew you'd be hard to resist. Named you then and there after Gerald Durrell's TV pet - ‘Roger' seemed a perfect fit. So, after your Mummy Sunshine's farewell lick (your Daddy being out working sheep)

you stood
in your tomato box
on Auntie's lap
looking ahead, never back
as I drove home


At Lady's Well (Northumberland)

From Holystone we walked the field-path to seek out Lady's Well. We found it - just a small rectangular pool in a shady glade close by the River Coquet where once a priory had stood - a few of its relics still around. We chose to linger for a while listening to those trees full of birdsong and a gentle breeze while you, of course, still keen to learn all about the world, chose to wander off for your usual undergrowth sniffs - all peaceful until you came snuffling back:

suddenly you leapt
back-end first into the pool:
not a leap of faith
just a statue-saint
taking you by surprise


With Cows (Northumberland, Derbyshire, Warwickshire)

You thought the Friesians in the field below the Simonside Hills were fine: relaxed, lying on top of the wall of our rented cottage garden, you watched them graze - a farm dog in his element on holiday. It was later, and only that one loose Friesian at Hartington that took us all by surprise as it came charging, head down, around a bend: we all stood clear - you, we noted, clearer than the rest. After that it was apparent you had changed your mind about cows:

on our regular walk -
Old Milverton to Guy's Cliffe -
turning by the cow-field:
they'd stroll over just to stare
you'd take cover in the crops


With Sows (Warwickshire)

And not only cows - but Old Milverton sows as well: that's when you finally gave up your farm-dog instincts, decided you'd wholly settle for being a domestic pet. But, being a border collie, you had to retain your certain character:

not once but twice
the allotment sows escaped
chased you down the footpath
tails gleefully up
yours indignantly down


Ladies Walk (Somerset)

Montacute - one of our choicest haunts though you were always bored when we climbed Saint Michael's Hill and the tower on top because you were never interested in the views. So when we climbed back down again we'd walk you up Park Lane as far as the hollow where your favourite path started: Ladies Walk that took us through the ancient deer park:

real Rogerland -
all trees and wooded slopes
no end to big sticks to find -
at your grandest running free
bringing us weighty branches


With Auntie still (West Sussex)

cross-stitched by Auntie
bright-eyed, prick-eared, soft-tongued
your portrait not hung
but standing framed on the floor
beside your rug where you retired