Dogmatics, by Julia Griffin

Tobias and the Angel, by Andrea del Verrocchio (Italy) 1470-1480

Dogmatics
 
The young man went out and the angel went with him; and the dog came out with him and went along with them.                                                                
The Book of Tobit 6:2
New Revised Standard version
 
Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.     
The Book of Tobias 11:9
Douai version[1]
 
The boy Tobias, charged with chasing up
His father’s debt, sets out, divinely led,
Dangling a fish.  He also has a pup,
So most texts say; the Hebrew text, instead,
Says “fish heart”.  An observant eye can tell
This painter felt some hesitation too;
Look at the dog, trotting by Raphael:
You’ll see brown road and tree-line pushing through. 
Some think this part’s by Leonardo, young
Apprentice, fit to blend the oil and eggs
And paint some scraps: the fish, so deftly hung,
Betrays his touch; behind the angel’s legs,
Scripture’s unique pet dog, a little pale
Scribal improvement, hides his ghostly tail. 

Julia Griffin

Julia Griffin lives in south-east Georgia.  She has published in several online poetry magazines, including The Ekphrastic Review.