Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PLEA OF THE DEFENDANT (ON A PICTURE OF A MUZZLED PUPPY), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PLEA OF THE DEFENDANT (ON A PICTURE OF A MUZZLED PUPPY), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Yes, here I'm muzzled, fast and tight
Last Line: Was growl a little bit.
Subject(s): Animals; Dogs


YES, here I 'm muzzled, fast and tight,
From North to South, from West to East --
I, who have hardly learned to bite,
And never harmed a human beast.
They said, because I ran and hid,
I went to have a private fit;
They called me mad, when all I did
Was growl a little bit.

And when they doused me soaking wet,
They poked me out with pole and broom,
And caught me in a horrid net,
And dragged me to a dirty room.
And when I panted as I slid,
They said "Aha!" and kicked and hit
And used the hose. But all I did
Was growl a little bit.

But Freddy, when they went away,
Brought a big rag to sop me up,
And lovely waffles on a tray,
And new milk in a china cup.
He fed me through the net, dear kid,
And said, "Now take some more of it."
I could n't thank him: all I did
Was growl a little bit.

It hurts me most to make my bed
In such a dusty, dirty mess.
For "cleanliness," my father said,
"Is next, my dears, to dogliness.
Now, puppies, do as you are bid,"
He said; "be gentledogs or quit."
Of course he knew that all I did
Was growl a little bit.

"Don't get big heads like Cerberus,
Or bay the Dog-star late at night;
Be brave, and don't be quarrelous,
But when you're forced to fighting, fight."
I've sniffed at many a pantry-lid,
And barked at cats that scream and spit,
But this time, surely, all I did
Was growl a little bit.

There's a fine place, my mother thinks,
Where good dogs go when they are dead.
But my wise father only blinks
And gnaws his bone, and shakes his head.
But they agree I'll not be chid
Up there, nor muzzled, kicked, or hit,
If it is sure that all I did
Was growl a little bit.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net