I OWN a dog who is a gentleman. By birth most surely, since the creature can Boast of a pedigree the like of which Holds not a Howard or a Metternich. By breeding. Since the walks of life he trod, He never wagged an unkind tail abroad, He never snubbed a nameless cur because Without a friend or credit-card he was. By pride. He looks you squarely in the face Unshrinking and without a single trace Of either diffidence or arrogant Assertion such as upstarts often flaunt. By tenderness. The littlest girl may tear With absolute impunity his hair, And pinch his silken, flowing ears the while He smiles upon her — yes, I've seen him smile. By loyalty. No truer friend than he Has come to prove his friendship's worth to me. He does not fear the master — knows no fear — But loves the man who is his master here. By countenance. If there be nobler eyes, More full of honor and of honesties, In finer head, on broader shoulders found — Then I have never met the man or hound. Here is the motto on my lifeboat's log: "God grant I may be worthy of my dog!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROAST LEVIATHAN by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 27. LOVE, AND NEVER FEAR by THOMAS CAMPION THE IRISH RAPPAREES; A PEASANT BALLAD OF 1691 by CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY AUSPEX by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE ANGEL'S SONG; CAROL by EDMUND HAMILTON SEARS ON BUTLER'S MONUMENT [IN WESTMINSTER] by SAMUEL WESLEY |