golden retriever

night walk

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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

Chocolate and Butterscotch

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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)

another playtime

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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

/ Ajmorse / 1 Comment

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

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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

Monday in the ER

/ Ajmorse / 2 Comments

Hi all, no poetry from me this week because I spent most of my Monday in the Emergency Room.

Everything is okay, but at the time my face and arm was going numb, so that was less okay. I have a muscle strain in my right shoulder that makes me feel like there is an icy-hot poker stabbing at me. That is, when I’m not taking pain meds. Oh, and I have been getting muscle spasms in my neck, too. Fun times.

So, nothing creative from me this week. Or, maybe there is…

Monday in the ER

shoulder hurt, stabbing
pit stop, pit crew, she dying?
safe. home with pain meds

OR

my arm and neck numb
not dying. feel kind of dumb
remember: ergonomic

Ahhh…I could go on and on with the haikus. At least the dogs cuddled me at the end of the night. Showing their love, as doggies do. One big, giant, doggy pile.

Not a Poem – How’s Your January Been??

/ Ajmorse / 1 Comment

January has just been one big suck-fest. Anyone with me?

I have a poem I’ve been working on, but instead of coming together like things usually do, pulling the words out for this one is like trying to pull blood from a stone.

I am on the struggle bus. Physically. Mentally. Creatively. I long for sunny days. And warmth.

I hope everyone else is doing better than me. If you’ve kept up with this blog and my poetry book, you’ll know that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) hits me big every year. This past month, more so than others.

I take comfort in my light therapy, friends, comedy, and the dogs.

I don’t have anything creative for you today. I’m sorry. But here’s a few dog pics, because dogs are awesome and cute. Bowl is life. ❤️😆 love them. (The chocolate is Koda; the golden, Teddy.)

Dog Love

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dogs tell tales
like humans do
scratch an ear
steal a shoe

a stolen slipper
means, “I missed you”
a sock in mouth
means “hello,” too

love is the language
that dogs speak
except they say it
with a toy that squeaks

or slobbery kisses,
with head on your thigh
hands in warm fur
a deep, contented sigh

and muddy paw prints
on the kitchen floor
nose prints on the window
scratching the bathroom door

a minute is an hour
when you’re gone away
because they love us
every. single. day.

If you liked what you read, considering following me on Instagram @ajmorse_writes and follow my Facebook page A. J. Morse. My poetry book Walking in Cemeteries is available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/cAsZUxa

And…because we love our two buds…some pics below! We recently got a new golden retriever puppy. Meet Teddy! You can follow them both on instagram @kodabear_and_teddy