LOVE OF MR CHOWDY

A GIRL AND HER DOG.

You loved to hug Mr Chowdy;

You liked it when his wet nose

Brushed your chin or his long

Tongue licked your ear. Don’t let

The darn mutt bark too much,

Father said, or he’ll have to go

And sleep in the yard out in the

Doghouse. You used to feed him

From scraps saved from meals,

Or pushed him small pieces under

The table out of sight of the others.

Some evenings you managed to

Sneak him into your room and let

Him lie in comfort on your bed;

Listening out in case the parents

Came and turfed him off into

The kitchen or out in the cold.

Some nights you could hear his

Heavy breathing across the way

Beside the window where you let

Him lay. Now you’re much older

And Mr Chowdy’s dead; now it’s

Your husband’s snoring and heavy

Breathing that you hear in bed.