Vern

When walking in a tiny rain

Across the vacant lot,

A pup’s a good companion–

If a pup you’ve got.

And when you’ve had a scold,
And no one loves you very,
And you cannot be merry,
A pup will let you look at him,
And even let you hold
His little wiggly warmness–

And let you snuggle down beside.
Nor mock the tears you have to hide.

–Gwendolyn Brooks

from the poetry anthology, On City Streets, edited by Nancy Larrick