If I could talk and not bark, people would see I’m not as viscous as a great white shark.

My tenacity in ingrained, ever since I’ve been trained.

And grows fiercer the longer I’m in this yard chained.

As my spirit starts to spoil, it’s hard to stay loyal.

If only people knew my turmoil.

Every day my master reminds me of my flaws.

Hangs me from branches of trees, to strengthen my jaws.

Ohh the horror and wretch…

All day he makes me fight, but I just want to play fetch.

I get hit hard when someone steps in my shits.

They feed me mountains of meat, when all I want is kibbles and bits.

I’m growing so damn big, I scare all the children away.

Now my best friend in the world doesn’t want to play.

To have a true friend, I’ll go to any length.

It seems I have the kiss of death, I don’t know my own strength.

I just wanted to play with the cat in the trees, but I ended up killing her…

My only friends are my fleas.

All these germs, worms, and ticks got me ticked.

Can’t they see I’m ill man?

Maybe they will if I maul the mail man.

Now maybe they’ll listen after that mail man was slaughtered.

But Instead of putting me to sleep he made sure I was applauded.

Everyday that goes by I get meaner and meaner.

This yard is no longer a yard, it’s a fighting arena.

The sign on the fence reads beware, so step in if you dare.

The twinkle in my eye is now gone, all that’s left is a cold stare.

I was once a man’s best friend, but that’s come to an end,

So be a dogs best friend, and you’ll understand the moral.

• Nick Flash