To Have A Dog Poem by Randy McClave

I would rather own a dog than to have a child
As one wouldn't want to remain wild,
The dog would be my companion staying at my side
Not wanting to ever leave me, or to runaway and hide.
The dog could be trained to obey all the house rules
While the child wouldn't, treating others only as fools,
The child would always cry throughout the night
While the dog would growl to protect the child from fright,
The child would shout and the dog would bark
And both would enjoy running and playing in the park,
Both, would want to chase the birds and the squirrels
But, only one would wantonly enter into danger and perils,
The dog would be known as my lifelong best friend
Who would always remain at my side until the bitter end,
And the dog would be rumored as the one who eats trash
While the child would be known as the one who spends my cash.
When I come home from work after a rough day
Only the dog would greet me happy and wanting to play,
The dog would never be involved with a bad class of friends
Or to be the one who would always disappear during the weekends,
I could take a dog outside with me in the snow or in the rain
And it would not ever whine or cry or complain,
The dog would always come home to me when it is told
While the child would only ignore, as trying to be brash and bold.
One might bite and the other might be very cruel
But, only one could I ever send to an obedience school,
The child must always have new fashioned clothes to wear
While the dog would rather be playing and shedding its hair,
One I could create, and then one I could only adopt
I would be given one by birth and for the other one I would have shopped,
Them both I could raise and love them forever as my very own
But, only one would worry and stay with me, so I would not be alone.
One might be a German, or a Japanese or a Chinese breed
But, when they are with me, I do not hear bigotry or hatred of their creed,
One would always be content to sleep at the foot of my bed
And the dog would happily lie forever at my grave, when I lie dead.

Randy L. McClave