World Voices :: :: University of Virginia Library

Kim, in that tender canine heart of yours
What faithfulness endures.
What sterling qualities of loyal friend
And fearless comrade blend,
Making you strong to rescue and defend.

In you we find
The quick perception of a thinking mind,
Keen understanding, cheerfulness and tact,
And love so vast it permeates each act.

Often we cannot think of you as dumb,
But feel that speech must come
From that too silent lip,
Adding the last touch to companionship.

Lifting your shaggy locks and looking down
Into your eyes of brown,
Something I see that makes me more and more
Doubt that religious lore,
That orthodox, unyielding lore, which gives
No spark of soul to anything that lives
Save biped man. Why Kim in your dear eyes
There lies
The chief foundation of man's Paradise—
Unquestioning, undoubting love, and faith
That would walk bravely through the gates of death,
If so your Master or your Mistress led.
When all is said
It is of love and faith we build our Heaven—
Dear Kim
I cannot question that you will be given
Your green celestial lawn, your astral sea,
And life with him and me
Yea, life with him and me,
Since we to you are what God is to us.

And oh! to love God thus!
With such supreme devotion to obey
And ask no reason why; by night or day
To have no will or choice,
But just to follow the Beloved Voice.
To trust implicitly—to feel no fear
Or discontent or doubt since He is near.

Let me look deeper, Kim, in your dear heart;
Impart
To me that fulness of unquestioning love
That I may give my God thereof.