To those who say, he’s just a pet,
I cock my head and bark away nonsense.
Only a ruptured appendix
can wrench me
from this pawed, perilous couch
where my terrier lies,
head on my belly.
My weighted white blanket. Bear.
He adjusts his rump,
settles like a quiche
I dare not jiggle
at a delicate juncture.
Almost a senior,
his shorty coat has grown curly,
his lightning pace
delayed thunder.
Fewer solo escapades, rare forays
to the creek edged with poison ivy.
Mostly walks, reasonable duration,
those kohl-lined eyes approve,
direct my actions. Treat? Dog Park?
Mutual unspoken, un-woofed adorations.
He shadows
when panic overtakes me.
Together we hunt for my phone,
misplaced glasses.
Wonderland’s Cheshire Dog,
smiling.
To those who say, he’s just a pet,
I cock my head and bark away nonsense.
He will defy the dragons
I can’t foresee,
lead me over icy mountain passes.
I will muscle him aloft
in shark-infested seas; wisk from owls,
hawks, wild beasts.
My weighted white blanket. Bear.
“My weighted white blanket. Bear.” – what a perfect description. Those of us who have had the pleasure of having the company of a pup can relate to this deep connection. The protection, adventure, and humor are beautifully depicted in this poem. Excited to read more of the collection from Sandra D.
So appropriate to repeat the first line in the third stanza. I love the images in the last stanza of Bear protecting you and you shielding Bear. What a pair! This will be a great poem for pet and dog lovers. Go Sandy!