It’s not that her bowl was any less full,

Or her bed was any less warm,

But Polly wasn’t too happy about it

The day they brought Duke home from the farm.

Polly felt a little bit jealous

And kind of insecure,

What kind of dog was Duke anyway?

He wasn’t small and cute like her.

She’d always been an only dog.

Her ball was hers to chase.

Now Duke was here and Polly feared

That he might take her place.

Polly thought Duke smelled funny

And he didn’t bark like her,

And while her body was sleek and trim

He seemed to be all scruffy fur.

They gave Duke his own bowl and bed,

Like he belonged here now,

And even though Polly growled at him,

Duke would sleep beside her anyhow.

Polly slowly started to get used to him

As they lived each day together.

She liked to watch when Duke would play,

Especially when there was rainy weather

Duke was strange in some ways

That dog liked to get wet!

And when he shook to dry himself,

He’d get the people wet!

Polly laughed when she saw that,

And Polly also liked to see

Duke running after the mail truck -

That is, whenever he ever got free.

Duke would usually come back quick

With a doggy smirk on his face,

And he would look at Polly

Like you should have joined the chase.

I guess that’s what happened one day.

Polly couldn’t resist the fun,

And when the mail truck stopped by

Polly joined Duke on his run.

The truck driver didn’t see them

As they followed along beside him,

And soon they found themselves

With their house far behind them.

At first it was fun for Polly.

She’d never been from home very far.

In fact, she’d only left the house

When she’d take a ride in the car.

Soon they sniffed and romped everywhere -

Stopping for every smell and sight.

But after a while they were hungry,

And it looked like it would soon be night.

Their people were cruising the nearby streets.

They were calling out

Duke and Polly’s name.

But the dogs were too far to hear them,

And couldn’t go back from where they came.

As the streetlights came on

And the sky lit up with stars,

Polly began to worry

While she watched the passing cars.

It was then that Polly realized

She was glad that Duke was there with her.

They settled down in someone’s yard,

And she tucked herself tightly against Duke’s fur.

Duke started snoring and Polly started dreaming -

Dreaming that they both lived back on the farm.

She watched Duke carefully herding sheep

And helping the farmer keep them from harm.

She dreamed she saw Duke howling

At night under a crescent moon.

She dreamed she was howling beside him

And singing many a doggy tune.

They slept for what seemed a long time,

But finally awoke to happy surprise!

Their people were here, laughing and crying,

As they picked them up with tears in their eyes.

They arrived home to a little scolding

For taking off together like they did,

But they were petted and fed

Before they lay down in their beds

– even an extra bit.

After that night they were always together -

Sometimes in trouble but mostly not.

And Duke taught Polly to enjoy rainy weather.

Shaking water on people,

made them both laugh a lot.