A Pup's Price

In a house of solemn grace,

A new arrival took its place,

A dog, a gift of rare delight,

Its wagging tail a cheerful sight.

The master of the house, with glee,

Embraced the pup so full of glee,

But soon enough, he came to know,

This gift of fur, a hefty blow.

For every bark and playful bound,

A mess was made, an item found,

Destroyed beyond all recognition,

A costly game, without restriction.

The master thought, with much regret,

Of what he'd got, he hadn't met,

A task, a burden, so untrue,

More work than fun, a life anew.

And so, with heavy heart and soul,

He learned, this gift, a greater toll,

Than all he'd thought, or dared to dream,

A lesson learned, with patience and scheme.