When once you've worked a dog

I've seen the Rocky Mountains
And the Gulf of Mexico
The California surfers
And palm trees by the row.

I've read the works of Shakesphere
And seen Picasso's paint,
The sound of concert pianists,
And heard the bagpipes quaint.

And all of these have thrilled me
But not one would compare
With watching collies working
A single or a pair.

There's magic in each movement
That Mozart never had
And beauty in each turn
That makes my heart feel glad.

There's silence in each answer
Of every whistled tone'
That Newton never thought of
Nor ever was he shown.

There's feeling in the handling
That only poet's know
Or men that work with sheepdogs
And feel the teamwork grow.

Wherever life may take you
In sunshine or in fog
You'll never quite forget it
When once you've worked a dog.

-Anonymous