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TO MY DOG BLANCO
My dear dumb friend, low lying here,
A willing vassal at my feet, ā
Glad partner of my home and fare.
My shadow in the street, ā
I look into your great brown eyes,
Where love and loyal homage shine,
And wonder where the difference lies
Between your soul and mine.
For all of good that I have found
Within myself or human kind
Hath royally informed and crowned
Your gentle heart and mind.
I scan the whole broad earth around
For that one heart which, real and true,
Bears friendship without end or bound.
And find the prize in you.
I trust you as I trust the stars;
Nor cruel loss, nor scoff, nor pride.
Nor beggary, nor dungeon bars.
Can move you from my side.
As patient under injury
As any Christian saint of old;
As gentle as a lamb with me,
But with your brothers bold.
More playful than a frolic boy,
More watchful than a sentinel ā
By day and night your constant joy
To guard and please me well.
I clasp your head upon my breast ā
The while you whine and lick my hand ā
And thus our friendship is confessed.
And thus we understand.
Ah, Blanco I Did I worship God
As truly as you worship me,
Or follow where my Master trod,
With your humility ā
Did I sit fondly at His feet.
As you, dear Blanco, sit at mine,
And watch Him with a love as sweet.
My life would grow divine.
- Josiah Gilbert Holland
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Robert Frothingham (Songs of Men, an Anthology Selected and Arranged By Robert Frothingham)