Forty years of varied weather (How the impish decades fly!) Since we lived our lives together, My dog and I. Forty years of thought and action, Failure, struggle, pain, success, Play and passion, friendship, faction, Curse me, and bless. Back through all the mess of living, -- Time's commingled sun and fog, -- Merry, faithful, fond, forgiving, I see my dog. He was one who knew no meanness, Nor the shadow of a lie; Lived we two in spirit-cleanness, My dog and I. He was one who, always sunny, Never knew an anxious thought; Counted glory, counted money, As less than nought. He was one who knew no other Praise or blame than I might bring; I was father, I was brother, His judge and king! How we frolicked, single-hearted. Over meadows, through the wood! How my frets and fears departed, And all was good! Not a word, yet that dear creature, By his bearing and his looks, Said in each expressive feature Far more than books. Forty years of varied going, Highway, byway, steady jog; Few men better worth the knowing Than that old dog. Few have been so loyal to me, Few have I so truly served, Few to hearts unfailing drew me, And never swerved. This memorial belated, Let it stand for men to see, Till in heaven, recreated, He bounds to me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ADOLF EICHMANN by HAYDEN CARRUTH MOUNTAIN VALLEY by MALCOLM COWLEY THE SITTING by CECIL DAY LEWIS THE SEASONS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON EIGHTEEN-DOLLAR TAXI TRIP TO TIZAPAN AND BACK TO CHAPALA by CLARENCE MAJOR THE PLACE OF PEACE by EDWIN MARKHAM DOMEDAY BOOK: JOHN CAMPBELL AND CARL EATON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |