Flapping ears mark her longing to fly
But the bitch never misses a ball.
Frisbees, sticks, anything will do
She catches high balls or curves
Gleefully straining and running for her life
Jumping higher than any cow, trying for the moon.
Grannies and children beware!
The exuberant buoyancy of this dame
Takes no prisoners:
Greetings mostly end with mongrel and co in a heap on the floor.
Walks become exercises in sounding
And working like an express train
Steam engines can’t hold a candle to
The hard work initiated the moment somebody offers to put her on the line.
Blue-black eyes glitter at the feast of chewing a shoe
*
In later years, the lady found
Greater pleasure in chewing gum
Scrunched at the nearby garage.
Nobody would have thought she ever could slow down
But age and infirmity took its toll
And one day even this lightning-ball
Decided to take leave.
*
Doubtless she catches every high-flier
In the happy hunting grounds.
© HMH, 2013
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