Dogs

With regards to dogs

Only the human dead may lie

In God's good acre wide and fair;

Those of a humbler kind who die

May not have shelter there: -

Not Dan, who spent his lifetime in

Such deep devotion, such warm trust

Toward man, - 'twould seem there might have been

Some corner for Dan's dust;

Not Chum, a little blind boy's guide,

Not Mike, who raced on eager feet

When school was out, to walk beside

The youngest on his street;

No place for Jack who, neighbor-wise,

Shared with a hungry cur his bone,

Nor Pete, whose heart was in his eyes

To hear his master's tone;

Nor Watch, who longed to range around

With brother dogs, but wanted most

To keep good guard, - Watch, always found

Faithfully at his post;

No place for Sam, too small to teach

Great lessons to, whose only art

Was loving well one small lad, which

He did, with all his heart;

No room for Sandy down the road,

Who never, through the whole long span

Of his good life transgressed the code

Of courteous gentleman ...

Nor Max, who leapt a life to save

And lost his own, with peril near:

Look somewhere else for Max's grave,

The human dead lie here

Sleep well, you dead who never knew

Humanity. The Love on high

Who marks the faithful and the true

Remembers where you lie!

 

(Author unknown)