A Conversation with My Dog

I’m home at last— your so-called master—
Terrible day! A complete disaster!
        Stop wiggling, please!
Tell me, dog, what can it mean,
This mad world, its mindless careen …
        WHY do you sneeze?

Why fall to the floor to rub your chin,
And jump back up, shaking your skin
        Like a tumble dryer?
Then dance, then snort, then twist, then curl,
And leap—and then—begin to whirl
        In a widening gyre?

And BARK!— a verdict on my dithering—
(The day is late; the light is withering)
        BARK! We must go!
— (I know that)— hold still for the lead—
Dare let nothing further impede
        Nuestro paseo.

So here we go, out into Weather –
But O my cares they hang like leather,
        Smothering air.
You pull me forth to fill a lung
As we pursue our Wanderung—
        My savior.

I ask just who is walking who,
Who is cracked, and who has glue—
        A dog’s view? :
As ever—you do not respond—
But press your nose to every frond
        That summons you.

Of Property Rights you pay no mind,
(A very big thing with human kind—
        Watch out! )
And to a patch of godly lawn
You are a Pilgrim piously drawn—
        A pure Devout,

A Rolling Dervish in silken blades
Mounting transcendental raids
        On shrubbery—
Leashed as twain to a stolid man,
Stolidly facing (the best he can)
        The foolery

Of this drivil-nation! Of it’s greed…
Whose lasting flower shall be the Weed…
        Okay! Okay! —
My god, you run most like the wind!
You’ve reached the ball, and have it pinned,
        Fly back in play —

Back to me!


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