A Dog's Soul

Every dog must have a soul
     Somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances
     Are buried with his pride
Where he decides the good and bad
     The wrong way from the right,
And where his judgment carefully
     Is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place
     Where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that
     He trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly for
     Himself, He cannot speak,
Rebuked, He finds within his soul
     The comfort he must seek.
He'll love, tho' he is unloved,
     And he'll serve tho' badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away
     The times when he's abused.
Altho' his heart may break in two
     His love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog
     An understanding Soul!

[ Anonymous -- from 'Aiken Drum' (Aiken@AikensLaughs.com) ]