Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DOGGING HIS STEPS, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DOGGING HIS STEPS, by                     Poet's Biography
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!





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