The Who vs The What

It is a dilemma and it must be faced.
One is a who the other a sublime
mechanism whereby one can be
transported outside oneself. Both are
valued, the who as a warm and living
organism complementing our lives
while the what is a devoted byproduct
of humanity's capacity to communicate.
Put the two together and the dilemma
surfaces. A mischievous little dog
who believes it is perfectly normal to
peruse the bindings of books not to
find fascinating promise within their
pages, but to gnaw that binding as an
irresistible draw. To separate the who
and the what is not a simple undertaking.
Books abound in this household and are
everywhere to be found, many at a level
approachable by an enterprising dog. 
And that small dog is also everywhere
in the house that values the presence of
reading material. It is not a question
actually of what holds greater appeal
and value to those who respond to the
endearing qualities of a small furry
creature living among them, as opposed
to the printed word and the elegant grace
of language. So which to favour and
how to balance the scale of devotion
requires rational debate beyond the
discipline required of a puzzled little
dog for whom love cannot be withheld.