~~* Mogen the Live Stock Guardian Dog *~~
The Ghost of Drew
Introduction: In September 2003 we suddenly and unexpectedly lost our right hand man on the place - Uzi, the wonderful, faithful white livestock guardian dog, a Hungarian Kuvasz who protected the herds and flocks for six good years. Within two weeks of his being gone all the predators around knew he was missing. It was amazing, actually, eerie to behold, and shows what a good livestock guardian dog means to those who farm sheep and goats in the heart of the wild.
We began to see scat all along trails that led to pasture and creekside. Coyotes were seen in the distance, their gaze intent before they would turn and run back to their packs. One night a cougar screamed, making its presence known. It was the day I went out for a walk near the edges of our pasture and saw four full grown coyotes walking a straight line, sniffing the air, in a nearby meadow, that made me know our vulnerability. They scurried when they saw me, but I knew at that point that our animals were again being "targeted" by the wild denizens and a loss was imminent unless we did something about it. My goats and the flock of sheep just didn't stand a chance without a livestock guardian dog around the place.
So it is that Mogen (which means "Shield" in Hebrew - my husband picked out the name) came to the farm and took up Uzi's job. Mogen is 100% LGD - an Italian Maremma/French Great Pyr/ Turkish Anatolian cross. He knew his task from the get-go. We feel blessed by the Lord to have him.
Mogen is different from Uzi. For one, Mogen is jet black in coloration, except for his white chest and boots - whereas Uzi was white and fleecy as any sheep on the place. Also - whereas Uzi followed me everywhere (my co-shepherd) - a "people dog" - Mogen spends his entire day with the flocks and herds, totally bonded to his charges. We have yet to "pet" him. In fact he totally evades our approach, staying at least 30 yards or better from us at all times. He comes to a nightly regime of good dog food in a bowl - (prefers gravy on his food and let's me know that) but he does his eating all under cover of the stars.
Thus, Mogen, so adept at making his presence known from only a far distance - or by his vibrant barking in the night hours to keep predators at bay - has inspired this poem of mine. I want to give special thanks here to his breeders, Steve Egbert of Guinea Lane Farm, such a great guy, and especially to the little gal who I feel is so responsible for breeding such an excellent LGD, Cis Hansen. 'Nuff said, as Cis would say. 'Nuff said.
Some say that they've seen him
Some say that you can't
Now listen closely to me –
I'm not on a rant
A coal black dog with a bush of tail
A chest as white as snow
White boot mid-way up one leg
The other hangin' low
His tail waves like a banner
Like a banner in the sun
He signals to his charges
That it's time to run
The ghost of Drew, the ghost of Drew
Black gleaming ghost of Drew
Some say that they've seen him
Those that have are few
He runs as swift as eagles
He hides in mists of gray
That coal black face is regal
While shadows on it play
His ma, they say, was Maremma
His pa, Turk renegade
A wide dark forest is his home
The trees, his colonnade
His uncle Klick's a rover
Grandma, a French barmaid
They never learned "roll over"
Nor "sit" – nor "fetch" – nor "stay
Their breeder was an outlaw
Come from Shanty-town
She wore a holster and a gun
But never wore a frown
She'd take a lick o'leaf
And roll another one
And take a puff or two or three
(Hand resting on her gun)
Some say you couldn't hold her
"Twice as wild as her dogs"
But I've cried on her shoulder
Watched her gather polly-wogs
Yes, when all is said and done
My dog's an L-G-D
A "Best of Breed" he may not win
But he's just right for me
The ghost of Drew, the ghost of Drew
Black gleaming ghost of Drew
Some say that they've seen him
Those that have are few
A bowl of food at end of day
Is all this ghost dog wants
He keeps his flocks far from the fray
…far from the Big Cat's taunts
His gait is like a lion's
His teeth as fierce as knives
His rumbling throat gives warning
…to those who love their lives
I saw his shadow yesterday
Fast fleeting as twilight
His feet are swift as lightning,
He turned and ran in flight
He listened not unto my voice
He listened not to me
Although I called with sweet rejoice
All he did was flee
Into the distant reaches
Of forest and of glen
…I watched as Mogen vanished
Fast around a bend
The ghost of Drew, the ghost of Drew
Black gleaming ghost of Drew
Some say that they've seen him
Those that have are few
There are two ewes (they're Shetland)
He oversees their ways
You see, this dog grew up with them
In his puppy days
If they weren't here upon this farm
We'd lose him, that is clear
So queens they are, and far from harm
As long as Mogen's here
Sometimes he lays his body
Stretched hard upon the ground
His eyes are fast upon his flock
He rarely makes a sound
Sometimes he sits upon a rock
Up on yonder hill
I think that he is watching me
His black form statue-still
He makes his bed under an oak
With twisted wizened limb
The shady oak, his resting place
When evening shadows dim
The lions fled so long ago
When they'd heard he'd come to town
The bears, they too bid quick adieu
…(he just ain't your average hound)
The ghost of Drew, the ghost of Drew
Black gleaming ghost of Drew
Some say that they've seen him
Those that have are few
Some say that you can't trust him
Some say to watch your back
Some say he killed a coyote once
Others say it was a pack
Some say he's missing sense
A sense of right or wrong
Some say he killed a she-cat once
…others say it was a throng
Some say that he's a phantom
Lurking in the night
If that's the case, this ghostly dog
Puts real live dogs to flight
I guess we'll really never know
For he has no lair or haunts
He needs no pats upon his head
A bowl of food is all he wants
The ghost of Drew, the ghost of Drew
Black gleaming ghost of Drew
Some say that they've seen him
Those that have are few
If you think you've spotted him
In mists as cold as ice
He'll be gone around a corner
Before you have blinked twice
And if you chance to meet him
He ain't no lonesome stray
He's my livestock guardian dog!
And with this ranch he'll stay
So don't pay heed to rumor
(They say he's wild as wind)
Just keep your sense of humor
For you'll find none better'n him
The ghost of Drew, the ghost of Drew
The large black ghost of Drew
Some say that they've seen him
Those that have are few
The first night that we had him
He escaped and ran
…His uncle had to find him
And bring him home again
Now, it seems, he's settled
Into a regimen
He considers Singing Falls his home
Our flocks and herds, his kin
So, if you come upon him
Give him a "howdy-hi!"
I don't expect he'll hang around
To give you a reply
He'll run off like a jackal
Those feet'll nearly fly
…not a hair raised on his hackles
(Not mad, he's only shy)
That's just how God has made him
I can't well change his ways
I doubt I really want to
(Does this poem sound forth my praise?)
For the ghost of Drew, the ghost of Drew
Black gleaming ghost of Drew
Some say that they've seen him
Those that have are few
†
Alexandra Scribe
Homestead Home
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