Your first dog

is a first love

Even if she has a chronic sore on her back

and gets fat and tired

so you hardly notice she is missing

when she wanders into traffic and dies.

There was still that moment when Ginger and I had a special bond

Outside the complex world of the big people.

In the long ago time when your dog just followed you aroundDay

and there were no leashes or poop pick up laws.