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The Little Black Dog

Posted on March 29, 2013 Posted By: Mark Winter - One Man Show MinistriesCategories: Blog

 

Years ago, I discovered a poem by Elizabeth Gardner Reynolds entitled “The Little Black Dog.” The first time I read it, I wept. Being a lover of Jesus Christ and a huge fan of dogs, the two came together in a perfect storm of emotion. On this Good Friday 2013, I reprint it to touch your heart and soul.

THE LITTLE BLACK DOG

by Elizabeth Gardner Reynolds

I wonder if Christ had a little black dog,

All curly and wooly like mine:

                            With two long silky ears and a nose, round and wet,

 And two eyes, brown and tender, that shine.

I am sure, if He had, that that little black dog

Knew, right from the first, He was God;

That he needed no proof that Christ was divine,

And just worshipped the ground where he trod.

I’m afraid that He hadn’t, because I have read

How he prayed in the garden, alone;

For all of His friends and disciples had fled

Even Peter, the one called a stone.

And, oh, I am sure that the little black dog,

With a heart so tender and warm,

Would never have left him to suffer alone,

But, creeping right under his arm,

Would have licked the dear fingers, in agony clasped,

 And, counting all favors but loss,

When they took him away, would have trotted behind

And Followed Him quite to the Cross. 

 

Photo courtesy of Harmid through stock.xchng

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Comments(6)

  1. Reply
    pat says
    February 11, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    Thank you.for.sharing this It is consoling as I cpmfort my little black dog…on her way to be with the Lord’s

    • Reply
      Mark Winter - One Man Show Ministries says
      March 14, 2016 at 12:36 pm

      Pat, I am glad that this poignant little poem gave you comfort. We lost our family dog recently and we know the pain. But I believe that nothing good is ever lost with God – including our beloved pets. God is at work to redeem all of creation! (Romans 8:18-21).

  2. Reply
    Kathy says
    April 10, 2019 at 11:15 pm

    I recently found this poem, handwritten, in an old trunk that belonged to my mother. He aunt claims to have written it. Does anyone know where it actually came from? This is one of two that I’ve found. I’m curious now. She died in the early 70s. Thanks.

    • Reply
      Mark Winter - One Man Show Ministries says
      April 13, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      Kathy, the only attribution I could find was “j anderson.”

  3. Reply
    Marilyn Bell says
    February 6, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    If your mother’s aunt is named Elizabeth Gardner Reynolds, she’s the author. My Grandmother died in 1940 aged 68. She had a scrap book in which she pasted her favorite poems cut from newspapers & magazine, etc. which had to be much earlier, maybe in the 20’s. At age 11, I handcopied my favorites, including the above and noted the author as Reynolds. “J anderson changed two words and then seems to have claimed authorship. Unfortunately Grandma’s scrap book got tossed out by my father or I might know more. I can’t find anything about Reynolds, except that this poem is published in the book, “Poems That Live Forever” on Page 362 under her name, which seems like confirmation.

  4. Reply
    LynAnn Williams says
    December 4, 2020 at 2:56 am

    It is published in a poetry book called Parlour Poetry.

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