Poem

I'M YOUNG AND HANDSOME AND FULL OF LIFE,
JUMPING AND BARKING. I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY!
A WIRE CAGE IS NO PLACE FOR ME! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?
I WOULD ADD SO MUCH TO YOUR LIFE.
GIVE ME A CHANCE! TAKE ME! TAKE ME!

I'M NOT SO HANDSOME AS THE OTHERS, I'M FAR FROM PERFECT,
BUT THEY TELL ME THAT'S JUST BECAUSE I WASN'T FED RIGHT.
I'M BETTER NOW. LOOK, I CAN ALMOST STAND UPRIGHT.
SEE HOW HARD I TRY? I'LL BE THE BEST DOG ONCE I'M WELL.
I'LL SOON BE ABLE TO WALK BESIDE YOU, PERHAPS EVEN RUN IN FRONT OF YOU.
INSIDE, I'M THE SAME KING OF DOG AS ALL THE OTHERS. I WANT WHAT THEY WANT.
DO YOU WANT ME? TAKE ME!

I'VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK A TIME OR TWO,
PERHAPS EVEN THREE OR FOUR.
I MAY NOT HAVE THAT MANY MORE SPINS IN ME, BUT I'M STILL HERE.
I'LL WAIT FOR MY DRINK, THANKFUL THAT SOMEONE REMEMBERED
TO PUT A RUG IN THE BOTTOM OF MY CAGE.
THAT'S A COMFORT TO OLD BONES.
I CAN'T SEE AS WELL AS I ONCE DID, BUT I CAN SEE A KIND FACE
AND SENSE AT LEAST A PASSING INTEREST IN ME.
I WON'T RATTLE THE BARS, TAKES TOO MUCH ENERGY.
BUT I'LL WAG MY TAIL FOR YOU TO REMIND YOU
THAT SOMEONE ONCE LOVED ME VERY MUCH, AND I HIM,
AND I STILL HAVE LOVE TO GIVE. DO YOU NEED SOME? TAKE ME!

Rusty Hancock