frantic leaping
o the leash
put it on put it on put it on
jumping with joy jump jump
it’s a tussle to get the clip on the collar
finally, door open dash out
survey all that is to be seen
put nose into the air into the wind
snuff snuff deep sighs happy sighs
deep snuffs to get the scent of what’s there
let’s go and she dashes forward
the leash goes taut and i pick up my pace
to keep up with her pace
little legs moving back and forth
little hips moving side to side as we
move along the sidewalk
sometimes tail up looking forward
most of the time she keeps nose to ground
criss-crossing the sidewalk
abruptly stops and i almost trip over her
a pause to take in the smells then off again
we walk … she walk-runs, I walk very briskly
have to watch her when she stops to sniff deeply
before I know it she’s rolling in some intoxicating odor
walking walking running running walking running
up and down the street
alongside the curb
looking for that spot of spots to do her business
finally she halts and crouches into that familiar squat
a little hunched ball for number two
or stretched out with tall straight out for number one
she looks at me for approval
good girl good girl