Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DOGGING HIS STEPS by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: TO DOG HIS STEPS' -- THERE'S LIBEL IN THE PHRASE
Last Line: "THAT IS TO ""DOG HIS STEPS"" THE DOGGISH WAY!"
Subject(s): ANIMALS; DOGS;
"To dog his steps" -- there's libel in the phrase,
A slander on the faithful doggish ways.
By it men mean to follow like a thief,
To tremble at the crackling of a leaf,
To crawl and sneak, to spy and wait and gloat.
And hide a dagger ready for a throat.

No, no! To "dog his steps" is to pursue
With endless loyalty and purpose true;
To leap with love and eagerness and joy,
Be ready for the heartiest employ;
To worship him as if he were a god,
And follow every step that he has trod;
To hang upon his whistle or his word;
To skim along as happy as a bird;
With shining eyes and with a heart of cheer
To be a comrade and a friend sincere;
That -- never mind what stupid men may say --
That is to "dog his steps" the doggish way!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net