<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><span style="color: rgb(91, 155, 213); font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 26pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The Power of the Dog</span><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br>by Rudyard Kipling</span></p></div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 19.2pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There is sorrow enough in the natural way<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">From men and women to flll our day;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">And when we are certain of sorrow in store,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Why do we always arrange for more?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 19.2pt; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Buy a pup and your money will buy<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Love unflinching that cannot lie—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Perfect passion and worship fed<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nevertheless it is hardly fair<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">To risk your heart for a dog to tear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 19.2pt; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When the fourteen years which nature permits<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">To lethal chambers or loaded guns,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Then you will find—it’s your own affair—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">But . . . you’ve given your heart for a dog to tear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 19.2pt; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When the body that lived at your single will,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">When the spirit that answered your every mood<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">You will discover how much you care,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">And will give your heart to a dog to tear<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">When it comes to burying Christian clay.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Our loves are not given, but only lent,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">At compound interest of cent per cent.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tough it is not always the case, I believe,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tat the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 19.2pt; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For when debts are payable, right or wrong,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">A short-time loan is as bad as a long—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">So why in Heaven (before we are there)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br></div>—————————————————<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.MoscowCares.net</span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div>“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”</div><div>- Roy E. Stolworthy</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>