To honor Kemba on this, his 7th birthday, here’s a poem celebrating his life on the beach. The verses that follow should be recited to the rhythm and meter of Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s “Casey at the Bat.” It’s my favorite poem. It’s also the only poem I know.
The outlook was pure brilliance in Sunville that fine day,
The dogs assembled in the sand to race and romp and play.
Five years ago a poem I penned ’bout Westport’s Winslow Park,
But summer’s here, and Kemba has a different place to lark.
In Amagansett there’s a stretch, its glory I shall preach: Napeague, it’s called, and you won’t find a more dog-friendly beach. The humans, oh so welcoming, yes, they deserve a shout, But it’s not those folks, it’s their dogs I want to sing about.
The girls next door, they’re Vizslas, yes, and Kemba they will race; Both of them can kick his ass, young Gwen or speedy Grace.
There’s fluffy little Callahan, who growls when’ere they meet, “Kemba,” I say, “you must behave! Cal lives across the street!”
From a perch atop our nearby dune, the view is quite commanding, Who is that dog of black and white? Ah, Tuco — from Barnes Landing! Hank the Frank’s a Dachshund, I s’pose that’s pretty clear, And Leah, Bianco, Frida . . . they’re small, but have no fear.
Lacy’s sleek and oh-so-groomed, Gio’s hyper-frisky,
Come join the gang down on the beach? Their parents say, “Too risky!” Kemba craves the dogs who fetch, the ones who match his hustle, Like Otis, Dylan, and Bella — big! — and Maxie, the Jack Russell.
Who claims credit for all these friends? To Ricky, gotta hand it, For ’twas the Beagle, who after all, met Monty first, then Bandit. Let’s not forget Bruce, Angela, and Romeo the Terrier, They frolic still in Doggy Heaven; things couldn’t get much merrier!
At some point Summer turns to Fall; the canine crowd grows thinner, Each day it seems it’s earlier the pups are called for dinner. The local dogs, those hardy souls, ‘long Sunville they still roam, Though they search the water and the sand, Mighty Kemba has gone home.
YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW BEAGLE MAN, KEMBA, AND RICKY ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.
Hand it and Bandit? Impressive, Hank. And you didn’t even have to do any Re-
search!
I can do it when I kind of have a format to follow. 🙂
Delightful I must say, the day with your pup is a must!
Happy Birthday, Kemba! Seven years of exuding and inducing joy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEMBA!!!! We’re headed to the beach now to celebrate! 💚 Hank The Frank and a new member of our crew who you will meet soon!!!
All right! See you out there!
Hey, Kemba, Happy late 7th Birthday! I suppose you enjoy the news about your name sake in the big time, i’m sure your Big Guy does. Enjoy the next 365 days!