Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HONG, by OLIVER MURRAY EDWARDS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HONG, by                    
First Line: Hong we brought from far off china
Last Line: In his heart was only love.
Subject(s): Animals; China; Dogs


Hong we brought from far off China,
From a city called Hong Kong;
Then a two months blue-black puppy,
Black his mouth and black his tongue.
Half around the world we brought him,
Fifteen thousand miles by sea;
Hong Kong Chow, the name we gave him,
Was our gift to Betty Lee.

He was ever a wise puppy,
Silent but observant he,
Won the hearts of all who knew him
Those two months upon the sea.
On the topmost deck, his quarters
Both commodious and neat,
With a Geisha girl named Kyto,
These two shared a private suite.

Hours we spent with him and Kyto
As we traveled on the sea,
Happy hours now gone forever—
Still they live in memory.
Day by day we learned to love them,
Day by day the puppies grew,
Ever watching for our coming,
E'er they saw they always knew.

When they saw us at the railing,
Then they came with rush and bark,
Eager little upturned faces—
To their pleadings we would hark;
Lift them out beyond the railing,
Comb and brush their matted hair,
Feed them cakes and little cookies,
Watch them play together there.

When arrived in New York harbor,
Landed on an unknown shore,
From their native lands far distant,
They found friends and home once more.
Doors stood open for their coming,
Joy and love did them surround;
To Betty Lee, his little mistress,
Hong by chains of love was bound.

Hong was then a four months puppy
Full of wisdom too was he,
Wisdom brought from far off China,
Wisdom gained upon the sea.
When his puppy days were over,
He was wise to a degree,
By other dogs he was respected,
From dog dominance was free.

Like some dark and silent shadow,
He was ever in the thick
While he never was obtrusive,
Still he never missed a trick.
Dignified, aloof and distant,
Ways of dogs he seemed above,
Tolerant but never cringing,
In his heart was only love.





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