The following was written by me  62 years ago.  I’ve been going through old stuff prior to having a new carpet installed, and came across this. I  had sent it to the editor of a children’s magazine and it was rejected with a concern for children’s castration fears!

One time there was a little lad

who cried because he was so sad.

Don’t you dare call him a sissy,

My little Mister and Missy!

Because you would cry, too, I’ll bet

If, looking very close, you met

Yourself waving, in the mirror,

A doggie’s tail, covered with fur!

That’s just why this dear little boy,

Looking at it, lost all his joy.

He knew people would laugh and shout

When his doggie tail waved about.

He cried, “Oh, Mommy! Cut it off!

I’ll have no doggie tail, by troth!”

His mother opened her eyes wide

And smiled when she his tail espied.

“Why, cut off your lovely dog tail?

Indeed, you make my old heart fail!

No other boy can e’re maintain

Such a nice royal, shaggy train!”

The boy stood straight and laughed aloud;

He stroked the tail and looked real proud.

Said he, “Yes! I can use it for

Climbing up our old Sycamore!”

And whenever someone laughed at him,

He smiled a small pitying grin–

As if to say “You poor, poor boy,

You have no dog tail to bring joy!”

And later on the tail dropped off–

(He sneezed and coughed a too-big cough)

And you know, I really believe

He was sorry the tail did leave!