Sakat Gupta Majumdar writes

Beware of dog

In the house of Henry Brown, a Doberman stayed

Angry, ferocious and swift -

The neighbours remained in fear,

The thieves and decoits did not dare.

Visitors used to think if doorbell should be pressed.

The buckle’s chain was in tight grip whenever on the street.

A careful gap by the pedestrians kept

Vendors stopped crying having seen it,

Snatchers and burglars used to retreat.

The years passed and magical swiftness had gone down

As ‘Tommy’ grew old

That terrible barking turned to a gentle roar

And, the anger seldom noticed by Henry Brown.

Silence began to prevail with the death of the pet

As waiting outside

Thieves and decoits began to get brave

But strangers would hesitate

At ‘beware of dog’ still there on the gate.

Cave Canem ["Beware of the Dog"] in House of the Tragic Poet, Pompeii