Brown Dog

Brown Dog

He had been driven on down the road

His coat was matted; I could see his bones

He was starving, and he moaned

I wondered how long Brown Dog had roamed

Eyes full of fear; a look so sad

His tail was tucked between his legs

Would I let him stay?

Would I drive him on?

How could his Master dump him here?

A pet so loyal . . . man’s best friend!

Only a monster could inflict such pain

On one so trusting and so tame

I could drive him farther on

It’s not my fault he has no home

I patted his head and talked to him

I asked him where he’d been

I fed him and let him lie

  on the porch; I went inside

Francene Hopkins
1994 (Copyright)