Polly Brown
Laddie

Laddie had dug a hole under the fence,
so I followed him out. He wanted only
to sniff around, but I figured I’d go

down to see Grammy and the cows.
Folks travelling west, coming back
from Skowhegan Fair, found a small

solid person less than two years old
walking east, and a collie circling,
barking like mad. My parents first

heard our adventure from a stranger
at the door (This your baby?) and now
might be charged with negligence.

But I grew up hearing how far, even
then, I’d take an inspiration—and what
good sense of Laddie, to warn the others.