The Dog was sure it was there.
He knew where he had dug.
He never even told a soul-
Not Bull Dog, Mutt or Pug.
He searched and searched, but no success.
Somebody must have seen him
Digging deep into the earth,
Under this Oak tree's limb.
He chose this tree because it was
Tall and oh so grand,
With lots of leaves and strong branches
On soft and grassy land.
But his favorite bone was gone-
Stolen in the night!
He vowed to find who took it
And make this wrong a right!
Dog thought, "I bet Squirrel watched
From high up in the tree!
He hung around til I was done,
Waiting patiently!"
The Squirrel must have then snuck down,
Dog went on to imagine,
"Digging up that awesome bone-
With an evil grin!"
Dog went to accuse Squirrel,
Though he had no proof.
"That's what happened, I am sure!"
The Dog huffed with a "woof!"
He would confront this awful thief.
On Squirrel's guilt, Dog had ruled.
"I'll get my bone back from that crook,
Show him I can't be fooled!"
At the base of the Oak tree,
Dog snarled and barked and growled.
He yelled for Squirrel to come down-
"Return my bone!" he scowled.
Squirrel came out from his hole-
"What is this you say?
I do not have any bones,
I've been up here all day!"
Squirrel spoke of his innocence.
But Dog was pacing madly.
"If I had this bone of yours,
I would return it gladly!"
Dog maintained the Squirrel's guilt,
Calling him "thief" and "liar".
He growled and tried to climb the tree,
But could not get much higher.
It hurt Squirrel to be called names,
To be blamed for this crime.
And seeing how angry the Dog was,
Felt happy Dogs can't climb.
This went on for the whole day-
Back and forth they went.
Dog accusing, Squirrel refuting
Is how their time was spent.
Finally the Squirrel asked,
"Are you sure this is your tree?
I know this is a fine, strong Oak,
But it is one of three."
Dog stepped back and cocked his head,
Slowly looking behind him.
And he saw two more Oaks
Lining the park's rim.
He went over to examine them.
Upon closer inspection,
He had chosen the wrong Oak,
He made the wrong selection.
And sure enough, as he dug
At the base of the new trunk,
His favorite bone was still right there,
And his spirits sunk.
He saw with dread the pain he caused
Yelling at poor Squirrel.
He called him names and stressed him out,
Causing a needless quarrel.
With his tail between his legs,
Head low as it could get,
He returned to Squirrel's tree
Filled with great regret.
Suspicions had made sense.
I was sure of your guilt
With no evidence."
"I hope you can forgive me,
For I feel very bad
That I treated you this way.
You must be very mad."
Squirrel sighed and faced the Dog.
"I can accept your plea.
But next time please do make sure,
You bark up the right tree!"
