EULOGY ON THE DOG

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies; and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there, by his graveside, will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.

JUST A DOG

Don't ever call him, "just a dog."

Who haven't the eyes to see

That I belong to him as much

As he belongs to me

God must have had

His reasons for making the likes of him

And I humbly hope with all my heart

...that I was one of them

The years have dulled his russet color

and his vision is getting dim

And he walks with a limp when the days are cold

Cause the dampness gets to him

He's not as young as he used to be

and his whiskers are frosted white

But he wags his tail as if to say,

"You see, I'm still alright."

I cut his food in bite size chunks

and he gives me a toothless grin

Trusting in my love for him

whatever shape he's in

He has accepted growing old

the way men cannot do

And I'm not ashamed to say

he's taught me more than a thing or two

So, don't ever call him "just a dog"

Unless you are prepared

To match his steadfast loyalty

to care the way he's cared

For many the sad offenses

committed in love's name

And how many times it takes a dog

...to put a man to shame!!!!