To Me My Neighbour's Border Collie Poem by Francis Duggan

Are we any different to other creatures we are born and grow old and die
My next door neighbour's border collie seems no less a mortal than I
Well anyway that's how I see it though most with me would disagree
But everyone has their opinion and we all look at life differently
I have lived for more than six decades young people would see me as old
And I know when I am gone forever that my life story will not be told
But that does not cause me any worry to know others me will not recall
Such a thing I don't see as important as not one bit important at all
Death's part of life why should we fear it 'tis the fear of death that we do fear
When I am gone leave me to Nature for my death do not shed a tear
Out of woman-kind we were all born and we quickly age and fade away
And each night and day that we live through is one nearer to our last night and day
To me my neighbour's border collie is no less a mortal than me
Though many they would beg to differ and with what I say would disagree.