A boy and his dog

A dog is all a good boy needs
To lick his wounds when his heart bleeds
To gnaw his bones and chew his meat
A friend to turn to in defeat.

A dog is all a good boy needs
To follow where the master leads
A faithful servant true and kind
The seeing eye that guides the blind
Who understands all his commands
Who never queries his demands
Who disapproves but still concedes
A dog is all a good boy needs.

A dog is all a good boy needs
To cure the sick among the weeds
To fix the root of his disease
And set his weary mind at ease
Who always answers when he calls
Who never stumbles when he falls
Who breaks the back of his misdeeds
A dog is all a good boy needs.
Who bares her teeth but never bites
the Mother courage when she fights
Who stands to lose but still succeeds
A dog is all a good boy needs.