The Dog

The Dog is black or white or brown And sometimes spotted like a clown. He loves to make a foolish noise And Human Company enjoys. The Human People pat his head And teach him to pretend he’s dead, And beg, and fetch and carry too; Things that no well-bred Cat will do. At Human jokes, however stale, He jumps about and wags his tail, And Human People clap their hands And think he really understands. They say “Good Dog” to him. To us They say “Poor Puss,” and make no fuss. Why Dogs are “good” and Cats are “poor” I fail to understand, I’m sure. To Someone very Good and Just, Who has proved worthy of her trust, A Cat will sometimes condescend— The Dog is Everybody’s friend.