snuggle in

nap time

doesn’t matter what time of day
snuggle in

and before you know it
dog elbow in your thigh
snoring at your left
brown and golden fur
within arm’s reach
you didn’t even have to say anything
they just knew

mom’s resting
snuggle in

although you have less room than you did
something heavy, half on and half off
you can’t really move
but you feel it

one hundred and sixty pounds of dog pile
trying to heal your broken pieces
they don’t say a word
you feel it in your bones
in your soul
in the dark, cold parts
that even therapy can’t seem to reach

one snore
one yawn
doggy breath in the face
the assignment stands:

snuggle in
mom needs us


Not much to say…life has been life-ing a lot lately. It was a day of resting today. (I’m preparing this on a Sunday.) Naps. Quiet time, too much doom scrolling, probably. Watched a Pacific Rim movie. Need to do adult things. Don’t wanna. Sometimes vegging is just easier.

Hope you have a good week.

AJM

snack time

we hear rustling
the sound only a bag can make
that belongs to chips
or cheesy goodness
he rolls over
head on my lap
and strains his face and nose
towards the sound
another rustle
eyes wide
I can see his bear face thinking
is this a snack worth leaving
the warmth of bed
and then a few minutes pass
and I see his eyes droop
apparently there are other snacks
better than a nap
to this gray nose

night walk

the chill air laps at noses
and it slobbers on paws
and there, a silver sliver moon
during our evening walk

icy puddles shine like diamonds
the ‘don’t-walk-here’ mirror
an owl hoots nearby
come here, come here

the shush-shush of snow on boots
and the sound of passing cars
me: you’re barking at nothing!

no–we’re barking at the stars!


hah. I’m proud of my little sketch. I’m trying to get better. Bought some watercolor supplies the other day.
January almost done! I hope you all have a great week!

AJM

labs

Koda bear likes nothing more
than stretching out across the kitchen floor
and there he lies like time forgot
a chocolate lab
in the most inconvenient spot


I’ve been posting a lot of dog poems lately, and while I should finish up my lastest poetry project, I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a poetry book with dog poems and some short essays. Maybe featuring this chocolate chunk.

Anywho, dogs are adorable and if you’re someone who thinks they are messy and loud and smelly – well, they totally are, but you can’t beat the love from a dog. They love us when we don’t deserve it sometimes. Hope you have a fantastic week.

AJM

Chocolate and Butterscotch

To be read as if narrated by David Attenborough

two large
pound cakes

a chocolate
and a butterscotch

wait for more
cakes of their own

disappointed
and convinced that
the next five minutes
are essential to their rate of survival

the cakes keel over
and in a weakened state

they slip into oblivious sleep
and start to snore

Our buds: Koda (chocolate lab) and Teddy (the golden)

security blanket

the neighbor’s dogs

didn’t want it

our golden retriever

didn’t either

but every night

our chocolate lab

carries it off the deck

brown and half-deflated

faded from the sun

it enjoys the ride

out into the yard

Koda’s ears perk up

his stance, square and at the ready

something snaps in the woods

he shakes his head

and growls with enthusiasm

the basketball shakes to and fro

it’s a good feeling

to be needed

another playtime

the wind sighs through the window
a gust of promises
smelling like a friend
our chocolate lab lifts his graying muzzle to it
soft ears blown back
he breathes deep
there’s no telling
what secrets
the wind whispers to him
maybe it says, come and play

our golden retriever crouches low
the sunlight catches his fur like liquid gold

he wiggles his butt again and then
they’re off!

Dogs

I bought a poetry book
about dogs
and all it did
was remind me
how short their lives are

we’ll have several dogs
in our lifetimes
they’ll have several years
if we’re lucky

and it reminded me
we don’t have dogs
do we
they have you


♥️🥰😍

Entourage

having two dogs
is like
having a furry entourage

they will follow you
everywhere

except
it’s less about your support

or being an escort
and more like

how much
they need you desperately