YELLOW

 

One pearly day of early May

I strolled upon the sand,

And saw, say half-a-mile away,

A man with gun in hand;

A dog was cowering to his will,

As slow he sawed to creep

Upon a dozen ducks so still

They seemed to be asleep.

 

When like a streak the dog dashed out,

The ducks flashed up in flight;

The fellow gave a savage shout

And cursed with all his might.

Then as I stood somewhat amazed

And gazed with eyes agog,

With bitter rage his gun he raised

And blazed and shot the dog.

 

You know how dogs can yelp with pain;

It’s blood soaked in the sand,

And yet it crawled to him again

And tried to lick his hand.

“Forgive me, Lord, for what I’ve done,”

It seemed as if it said,

But once again he raised his gun:

This time he shot it- dead.

 

What could I do? What could I say?

‘Twas such a lonely place.

Tongue-tied I saw him stride away,

I never saw his face.

I should have bawled the bastard out:

A yellow dog he slew;

But worse, he proved beyond a doubt

That- I was yellow too.

​

- Robert Service