Joanne Toth

Cottonwood, Arizona

Born in Akron, Ohio, I have enjoyed writing poetry / prose and short stories since I was in grade school. I have worked in several trades during my lifetime, the last as a Euthanasia Tech for the Humane Society. My writings have been published in local newspapers and by The National Library of Poetry. I am in the process of writing a collection of prose entitled "PAW PRINTS IN THE SKY", dedicated to lost pets and their families. Writing helps me to understand difficult situations. I am able to take my anger and frustrations and put them into a positive energy flows. Omega is the dog in the picture, it is for him and many like him, that I write today.

PRAYER OF AN E.T.

I SAID A PRAYER TONIGHT...
NOT FOR THE HOMELESS,
HUNGRY OR EVEN WORLD PEACE.
I HOPE NO ONE MINDS!
INSTEAD, I SAID A PRAYER
FOR FAMILIES AND THEIR PET/S
TRAVELING BY VEHICLE.
I PRAYED OWNERS WOULD ALWAYS
KEEP A COLLAR, TAGS AND LEASH
ON THEIR PET/S WHILE OUT OF THE VEHICLE,
ELIMINATING THE CHANCE OF THEIR PET/S
BECOMING LOST OR EVEN FORGOTTEN!
I PRAYED OWNERS WOULD KNOW HOW
TO BACKTRACK ONE HUNDRED MILES OR MORE,
IN AN AREA UNFAMILIAR TO THEM,
IN ORDER TO FIND THEIR BELOVED PET/S
SHOULD THEY BECOME LOST.
I PRAYED OWNERS AND LOST PET/S
WOULD ALWAYS BE REUNITED,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY...
I PRAYED FOR GODS STRENGTH,
EACH TIME I HAD TO DESTROY
SOMEONES WONDERFUL COMPANION.
I PRAYED TO CONCEIVE A PLAN,
SO PET OWNERS WOULD HAVE A PLAN FOR ACTION.
THE VERY SECOND THEY REALIZED THEIR FAITHFUL
PET/S WERE MISSING.
I PRAYED FOR GOD TO HELP ME....
SO THAT NONE OF THE LOYAL AND TRUSTING
COMPANIONS WILL HAVE DIED IN VAIN
I HOPE NO ONE MINDS!

LOST PET

YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ME TWO YEAR'S NOW.
YOUR FAMILY MUST BE WONDERING,
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU.
THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU,
I JUST CAN NOT PUT MY FINGER ON IT.
YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT TO WALK
ON MY RIGHT INSTEAD OF MY LEFT.
YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT NOT TO JUMP,
YOU KNOW VERBAL AND HAND COMMANDS,
YOU ARE EXCEPTIONALLY SOCIALIZED,
SOMEONE THAT CARED TOOK THE TIME.
SOMETHING TELLS ME, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
BECAME SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING
AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIND YOU.
IF YOU HAD BEEN WEARING A COLLAR AND TAGS,
THERE WOULD OF AT LEAST BEEN A CHANCE,
OF FINDING YOUR FAMILY.
GOD WILLING, MY FRIEND,
ONE DAY YOU WILL BE REUNITED.