Sunday, April 3, 2011

Special visits - not always Grandkids!

April 4, 2011 “Poetry is what gets lost in translation.” Robert Frost

We don't have a pet anymore, have had lots of dogs and one cat through the years, but when we said goodbye to the last one, haven't found a new pet. So, sometimes, instead of being asked to have grandchildren for a visit, we have the great privilege of taking care of a grand-dog! This particular one is a cattle dog named George.

Doggie Business

Zipping up the length

of my blue jacket, I grab

the keys from the hallway

hook while trailing the leash

‘till the dog hears, comes running

to bite at the collar. I shout

‘let’s go’.


Rushing out the door, lock

- step down-wait, heel

again—now we go-down

the greenbelt, through the

grass, around the fence to

the park.


“Look, it’s empty—unsnap—

go—oh, hurry—run—rush—

embrace the air, leap the hill-

return-pant-sit-lick.

Ah-h-h.


Good boy!

4 comments:

  1. I like "embrace the air". Isn't that just like a dog...or a kid for that matter.
    When I embrace the air, I wait for it to get to me instead of racing full tilt into it!

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  2. The rhythm of your words is perfect here. It reminded me of similar steps I go through with my dogs. Getting their harnesses on is always a methodical, but rushed process. Your words translated the feel of that process perfectly! I like the way your words are mingled amongst the physical steps.

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  3. My oldest son (10) read your poem out loud to us. He said, "I knew the dog was glad about going on a walk because of 'till the dog hears, comes running to bite at the collar. I shout "Let's go!''"

    I liked the lick at the end!

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  4. Nice! This certainly captures the dog excitement!

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