my dear Teddy
if i may be so bold
your long, soft fur,
looks like liquid gold
bathed in the sunlight,
he sighs. “it’s time to retire”
his eyes drift to a close
as he embraces the fire
I can’t help but write poems about these buds. They’re so cute. 🥰 Dogs are the best. Dog poems, too.
-AJM
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
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
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
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
get a bag
place bag on floor
tail wagging
his head will disappear into the bottom of the bag
you know
in case there are food items
and things to lick
mlem
lab caught!
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
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
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!
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
A. J. Morse 