"The Good Old Dog."
We had a 16-year-old Elkhound that was really like a mother
to me.
I mean, those Elkhounds are pretty domineering
personalities, if you've ever known
an Elkhound, wonderful dog.
"The Good Old Dog," "I will lay down my silk robe
beside me near the old bed for the good old dog.
She loves the feel of it, and she will push it, and pull it,
knead, and scrape, until she has it right.
Then she'll drop down, heavy, silver, and black,
in the moonlight on it, and a couple of pillows,
not bothering the cat who has taken over her real bed,
and breathe out deeply.
Gorgeously fat, her face like the face of the seal."