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
Comments(6)
pat says
February 11, 2016 at 7:52 pmThank you.for.sharing this It is consoling as I cpmfort my little black dog…on her way to be with the Lord’s
Mark Winter - One Man Show Ministries says
March 14, 2016 at 12:36 pmPat, 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).
Kathy says
April 10, 2019 at 11:15 pmI 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.
Mark Winter - One Man Show Ministries says
April 13, 2019 at 2:52 pmKathy, the only attribution I could find was “j anderson.”
Marilyn Bell says
February 6, 2020 at 11:01 pmIf 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.
LynAnn Williams says
December 4, 2020 at 2:56 amIt is published in a poetry book called Parlour Poetry.