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You
see this dog. It was but yesterday
I
mused forgetful of his presence here
Till
thought on thought drew downward tear on tear,
When
from the pillow, were wet-cheeked I lay,
A
head as hairy as Faunus, thrust its way
Right
sudden against my face, — two golden-clear
Great
eyes astonished mine, — a drooping ear
Did
flap me on either cheek to dry the spray!
I
started first, as some Arcadian,
Amazed
by
goatly god in twilight grove;
But,
as the bearded vision closelier ran
My
tears off, I knew Flush, and rose above
Surprise
and
sadness — thanking the true Pan,
Who,
by low creatures, leads to heights of love.
To
Flush,
My Dog
Elizabeth
Barrett Browning
Loving
friend, the gift of one
Who
her own true faith has run
Through
thy
lower nature,
Be
my benediction said
With
my hand upon thy head,
Gentle
fellow-
creature!
Like
a lady's ringlets brown,
Flow
thy silken ears adown
Either
side
demurely
Of
thy silver-suited breast
Shining
out
from all the rest
Of
thy body purely.
Darkly
brown thy body is,
Till
the sunshine striking this
Alchemise
its
dullness,
When
the sleek curls manifold
Flash
all over into gold
With
a burnished fulness.
Underneath
my
stroking hand,
Startled
eyes
of hazel bland
Kindling,
growing
larger,
Up
thou leapest with a spring,
Full
of prank and curveting,
Leaping
like
a charger.
Leap!
thy broad tail waves a light,
Leap!
thy slender feet are bright,
Canopied
in
fringes;
Leap!
those tasselled ears of thine
Flicker
strangely,
fair and fine
Down
their golden inches
Yet,
my pretty, sportive friend,
Little
is't
to such an end
That
I praise thy rareness;
Other
dogs may be thy peers
Haply
in these drooping ears
And
this glossy fairness.
But
of thee it shall be said,
This
dog watched beside a bed
Day
and night unweary,
Watched
within
a curtained room
Where
no sunbeam brake the gloom
Round
the sick and dreary.
Roses,
gathered for a vase,
In
that chamber died apace,
Beam
and breeze resigning;
This
dog only, waited on,
Knowing
that
when light is gone
Love
remains for shining.
Other
dogs in thymy dew
Tracked
the
hares and followed through
Sunny
moor or meadow;
This
dog only, crept and crept
Next
a languid cheek that slept,
Sharing
in
the shadow.
Other
dogs of loyal cheer
Bounded
at
the whistle clear,
Up
the woodside hieing;
This
dog only, watched in reach
Of
a faintly uttered speech
Or
a louder sighing.
And
if one or two quick tears
Dropped
upon
his glossy ears
Or
a sigh came double,
Up
he sprang in eager haste,
Fawning,
fondling,
breathing fast,
In
a tender trouble.
And
this dog was satisfied
If
a pale thin hand would glide
Down
his dewlaps sloping, —
Which
he pushed his nose within,
After,
—
platforming his chin
On
the palm left open.
This
dog, if a friendly voice
Call
him now to blither choice
Than
such chamber- keeping,
'Come
out!' praying from the door, —
Presseth
backward
as before,
Up
against me leaping.
Therefore
to
this dog will I,
Tenderly
not
scornfully,
Render
praise
and favor:
With
my hand upon his head,
Is
my benediction said
Therefore
and
for ever.
And
because he loves me so,
Better
than
his kind will do
Often
man or woman,
Give
I back more love again
Than
dogs often take of men,
Leaning
from
my Human.
Blessings
on
thee, dog of mine,
Pretty
collars
make thee fine,
Sugared
milk
make fat thee!
Pleasures
wag
on in thy tail,
Hands
of gentle motion fail
Nevermore,
to
pat thee
Downy
pillow take thy head,
Silken
coverlid
bestead,
Sunshine
help
thy sleeping!
No
fly's buzzing wake thee up,
No
man break thy purple cup
Set
for drinking deep in.
Whiskered
cats
arointed flee,
Sturdy
stoppers
keep from thee
Cologne
distillations;
Nuts
lie in thy path for stones,
And
thy feast-day macaroons
Turn
to daily rations!
Mock
I thee, in wishing weal? —
Tears
are in my eyes to feel
Thou
art made so straitly,
Blessing
needs
must straiten too, —
Little
canst
thou joy or do,
Thou
who lovest greatly.
