The Dog That Climbed The Tree

There is a story told
By young and old,
Of a dog that climbed a tree.
The old and wise,
With failing eyes,
Say that could never be.

But children smile,
And all the while,
Retell it as thought the truth,
It happened they say,
On a sunny day,
In a tree of ripening fruit.

Buddy barked long
At the birds of song,
And all that would steal the fruit.
Until a flash of red
From the forest bed
Shrilled like a piper's flute.

With the gauntlet down,
They crowded around,
Forest people wanted to see,
How Buddy would fare,
From up in the air,
If a dog can't climb a tree.

'Oh no,' said the badger,
And shook his head,
'Dogs can't climb,
Buddy will soon be dead!'

'Ah,' said the rabbit,
'If I were him,
I would run away,
At the slightest whim!'

'No,' said the fox,
'He must use his mind,
If ever an answer,
He's going to find.'

The squirrel leaped high,
In a move to fly
Past Buddy the mighty pup.
The threat was huge,
As the predator moved,
But the dog would not give up.

The wind had blown,
When the tree had grown,
In time it had learned to lean.
Buddy just glared,
His teeth were bared,
He ran with a mighty scream.

Buddy ran the slant,
Althought dogs just can't,
He was suddenly up the tree.
And there was his foe,
With nowhere to go,
Just as surprised as he could be.

People say,
That on that day,
The enemies made a deal.
For a total reprieve,
The squirrel could leave,
If he never again would steal.

The story here
Is one of mirth,
But the moral is there to see.
Face up to trouble,
And don't give up,
Because dogs can climb a tree.

GWB, Gordon William Bain,
2002 or 2003? Precise date unknown