Upon his once dark muzzle the greyness of time
Old Sammy the sheepdog is well past his prime
There was a time he could work sheep all day long
But age as we know it can weaken the strong.

Farmer Dave uses his young border collie bitch Princess for to round up his sheep
Whilst fifteen years old Sammy in his kennel sleep
Too old now to work every dog has their day
And the Seasons pass quickly and time ticks away.

Old Sammy the border collie Dave's faithful black and white
He is losing his balance and losing his sight
He walks like a drunk man unsteady on his feet
At sheepdog trials against the best he used to compete.

No dog is more faithful and few were as great
And Dave he takes good care of his old canine mate
And though for old Sammy the end is quite near
He doesn't know of death so death he doesn't fear.

The young black collie Princess she rounds up the sheep
Whilst old Sammy the sheepdog in his kennel sleep
Too old now to do the things he did enjoy
His end is approaching and soon he must die.

Francis Duggan

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/old-sammy-the-dog/