This means war-- tug of war

her brown eyes shined

through her growl as we played

they seemed to say "this is mine"

and her tail wagged on full display

in my hands the toy was twined

but she too had a fair say

for her teeth were of design

to catch what she wanted, even her prey

of retreat there was no sign

and so the final tug I did not delay

victorously, I held up the toy and she reclined

"promise me" I said to her "you'll stay"

like the good girl she was, she stayed as assigned

though her will started to decay

the promise could not be long kept without a whine

and so she lunged at the toy and did not obey