Morsels Poem by RIC BASTASA

if you think that i am but
another dog of yours
of the lesser breed or
variety
then please yourself
by simply giving me
morsels
on the floor

but to shame you a little bit
i am a civilized dog
i do not bark for food
i wait and even if humiliated by you
i do not bite

i am a pleaser
trained for entertainment
i know how to dance
and take orders from you
for me to do catch
roll, stand and sit and
chase

and to be honest with you
i am more of a faithful dog
that does not know how to backbite my master
even though
i have already known how to speak English even
before you do.


but i keep this a secret
for i still hope that you give me
your bone.