Josephine Preston Peabody (Жозефина Престон Пибоди)
Ode on the Dog
I
My Pitch-dark Angel with a Rosy Tongue,
My Own--my Own,
Why can't the grown-up Things we live among
Let us alone?
Why do they have to talk the livelong day
About such silly things?
But if they must,--why can't they, anyway,
Have either Tails or Wings?
II
Of Course I cannot love them as they are,
As much as You.
Why aren't they ever really Beautiful,
--They too?--
With curly coats, like wool;
And floppy ears to pull;
Yes, and a wide pink mouth, with such a Smile!
Yes, and a Tail that beats time all the while;
Beautiful, Beautiful!--
And golden stars, for eyes,
Behind the darkest trees
(Till your hair's parted)!
Why can't they have such darling ways as these?--
Why can't they be so lovely when they sneeze?--
Why can't they ever be so tender-hearted,
Or even look so wise
As You?--
My Wonderful (even if you Won't say _Mew_),
My True Prince in Disguise!
Why can't they be
As funny, when they try to sing a song?
And when, for everything that I can do,
They Won't Agree,--
Why can't they think they're always in the wrong?
--Like You!
III
Why you,--O Precious Thing,
You are swift (almost) as any Sparrow.--
Over the tall grass how you arch and spring,
Yes, like a bow and arrow!--
Oh, and how good to see you, when it snows,
Plough a long, lovely pathway with your nose!
(No one grown-up could do it, I suppose.)
IV
My dearest Blessing and my Very Own,
Even when I am grown,
Never do you forsake me!
If you don't go to heaven when you die,
--Neither will I:
Nothing can ever make me!
I won't go,
For all that they can do.
No; on the steps Outside, and down, below,
Forever and ever and ever, I'll stay too!
--With You.
Josephine Preston Peabody’s other poems:
