Classic Poem

Time was, and not so long ago, as men count time,
When dogs were symbols of uncleanliness,
Wretched, abhorred, ranked with the scum of earth.
No taunt, no insult deeper could be thought,
When taunts were needed, than the old, old phrase:
“Dog that thou art! Thou shameless and impenitent!”

Dogs such as these have had their evil day;
No more they crawl and fawn, abased and suffering;
No more they slink in gutters, feed from offal heaps.
Theirs is the post of pow'r, the warlike field,
And man, who once abused them, trusts to-day
In doggish fortitude, in doggish constancy.

Oh, wondrous change! Beasts that were scorned of all
Sit by their masters now, as loaded wains
Creep o'er the country with their freight of war.
The soldier drives, one arm about his friend,
And half his comfort in the endless days
Is the warm heart beside him, doglike answering.

Pariahs once, now mascots dearly prized;
Fugitives once, now messengers of war;
No creature's place so changed in common estimate.
Like beasts bewitched, in fairy tales of old,
Some magic touch laid on their shaggy heads
Has turned them all to kings, to four-foot potentates.