He lives, who last night flopped from a log br Into the creek, and all night by an ankle br Lay pinned to the flood, dead as a nail br But for the skin of the teeth of his dog. br br I brought him boiled eggs and broth. br He coughed and waved his spoon br And sat up saying he would dine alone, br Being fatigue itself after that bath. br br I sat without in the sun with the dog. br Wearing a stocking on the ailing foot, br In monster crutches, he hobbled out, br And addressed the dog in bitter rage. br br He told the yellow hound, his rescuer, br Its heart was bad, and it ought br Not wander by the creek at night; br If all his dogs got drowned he would be poor. br br He stroked its head and disappeared in the shed br And came out with a stone mallet in his hands br And lifted that rocky weight of many pounds br And let it lapse on top of the dog's head. br br I carted off the carcass, dug it deep. br Then he came too with what a thing to lug, br Or pour on a dog's grave, his thundermug, br And poured it out and went indoors to sleep. br br I saw him sleepless in the pane of glass br Looking wild-eyed at sunset, then the glare br Blinded the glass—only a red square br Burning a house burning in the wilderness.