Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

O May Michael always dog it at the window just beyond yet near
                                                       the Master bed

    For the perpetual clockwork rising of my bestfriend Ladd.

    May yet his vigil there bestir him at every curious untoward
                                                      tread,

    For boyhood has its sometime malice, rude burglary still
                                                      greater charm.

    May he then watchdog with the double dose of love and love
                                                      Ladd:

    For pride can happ’ly choose to send him yipping after villains
                                                     fleeing, fled.

    May he always thus not wake or startle with prolonged alarum

    For-sleep-intended, deep, and safe then, midnight Ladd.

So May Michael ever guard his master by both self-love and by
                                                    simpler glee.

   For then it is he can not with vain cockcrowings act the pee-
                                                    vish Pekinee.

    May he also save the milkman, mailman, newsboy--all elect--
    For honeyed service to his lord. And leave all garbage cans
                                                    harmon’ously erect--

Though May that rousing master his, I pray, always quick as dawn
                                                    supply his diet’s boneless
                                                    chicken

For sweet prevention of all dogged snarls and desperate garbage
                                                    pickin'.