Faithful companion, loyal friend, Warm weight at the foot of the bed. Clattering claws across the floor, Rushing to greeting at the door. Eager for daily exercise, Snatching the ball out of the sky Bounding full-tilt across the park, Playing outside ’til after dark. Proud to…

Loping through the grass That loving gaze trips my heart Bright pink tongue lolling

We’ve squashed you to suit our whims, replaced wild ugly with domestic ugly, the kind that makes you shiver and gives you gout. And yet you still yap, still howl as if cued. Even if your noses have been shrunk, even if you’re chained to laps and…

  You came to us pup bones and fur, bouncing Spent your days licking, cuddling, pouncing Sleeping next to the hearth lost in dreams, dancing Autumn time hunt in tall grass fields, prancing You left us white of face, sighing we bereft, crying Your place…