Today is National Poetry Day, an annual event that encourages people to enjoy, discover and share poetry! 2017’s theme is “freedom” which is very appropriate for the amazing independence that our dogs can bring to a person with disabilities. Read more about #NationalPoetryDay.

To mark the occasion, we have a fantastic poem to share from Paula Dagger who works for Draycott Nursing & Care, an organisation that have supported Canine Partners for six years and hold an annual carol service to raise much needed funds for us. You can find out about this year’s service and book your tickets here.

Paula has over 20 years experience in the care industry, and first started writing poems for her colleagues’ birthdays before creating her own website to share her work. She even read one of her poems at the 2014 carol service!

Without further ado, here is Paula’s fantastic poem all about the life-changing effect a canine partner can have…

“What did I do without you? my friend, my carer, my boy
If only you knew how you’ve changed my life, it’s filled once more with joy
Many a night I’d cry in bed as I suffered in silent pain
But that all started to slowly ease, when into my life you came

I’d often felt isolated, as people they turned away
Although they were not being mean, they just didn’t know what to say
People would stare and kids would ask, why is she in that chair
But with you next to me, by my side, it’s something I now can bear

Every day was a constant struggle, just to try and tie my shoe
I felt so very frustrated, at what I could no longer do
I’d lost all my independence, I felt I was losing my mind
It seemed that people were pitying me, instead of being just kind

You came to me in the darkest of times when I’d almost given up hope
I didn’t dream for a single minute what you could do with a rope
For we tied it onto so many things, mainly handles on doors
Meaning that now I didn’t have to struggle, when opening my knicker drawers!

I’d always felt so embarrassed, if ever I dropped my keys
A stranger I now do not have to ask, can you pick them up for me please
You fetch the post, put the washing out and put things in the bin
Then you get your food, but it has to be dry, as alas you can’t open a tin

I used to sit at home all day too scared to go out alone
But now you are here, many an hour is spent, outside, just having a roam
We head out to the shops together going on a shopping spree
You pick things from the shelves for us, then carry them home for our tea

When it is time to pay at the til, on the counter you will stand
Passing the cash to the shopkeeper, giving a cheeky lick of his hand
When people approach us I feel so proud as they bend to shake your paw
I’m now happy to chat and talk to strangers, no longer feel shy anymore

You’ve changed my life in so many ways.”

Pictured: Jackie Kennedy with canine partner Kingston