THREE times a day -- at two, at seven, at nine -- O terrier, you play your little part: Absurd in coat and skirt you push a cart, With inner anguish walk a tight-rope line. Up there, before the hot and dazzling shine You must be rigid servant of your art, Nor watch those fluffy cats -- your doggish heart Might leap and then betray you with a whine! But sometimes, when you've faithfully rehearsed, Your trainer takes you walking in the park, Straining to sniff the grass, to chase a frog. The leash is slipped, and then your joy will burst -- Adorable it is to run and bark, To be -- alas, how seldom -- just a dog! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A DIVINE IMAGE, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE SONNET: INSCRIPTION FOR A PORTRAIT OF DANTE by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO OUR LADY by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE THE BALLAD OF THE DARK LADIE; A FRAGMENT by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE TO THE AUTHOR OF 'THE ROBBERS' (SCHILLER) by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |