Loosing the Leash

Dawn means walk time
   before the heat of day
      builds to full, suffocating force
So my doggie companion and I
   pile in the car
      and it’s off to the wild

Into the park he leads me
   but with many pauses
      to sniff the ground
         to taste the grass
            to leave his mark
Tugging at the leash
   does little good

So, as I wait, I listen
   to the morning bird chirps
      the crickets and cicadas
         the squawk of a disturbed night heron
            the soft snuffling at my feet

And nothing else will do
   but we must climb the stairs
      of the wooden observation platform
to gaze out over a pond so still
   that it’s nothing less
      than an alternate universe
         an upside down world
            of trees and sky

And everywhere dragonflies
   dart and zoom
      like garden fairies
         with gossamer wings

When we reach the wildest place
      brown eyes turn up to me 
         he holds his breath expectantly
            while I release the clasp

Then with a bound, he’s off!
   racing in joyful abandon
      through the high, dewy grass
He comes to a sudden stop
   and casts back at me
      a laughing face
         pink tongue lolling
            tail curved up in a crescent moon

Then he trots off again
   nose to the ground
He flushes a cottontail
   and gives chase briefly
      but is simply amused when it gets away
         oh well! –and he’s off again

He finds the pond and laps noisily
   spreading circles in the water
      wading among the weeds
         coyly dashing away
            when I call
the voice of authority
   of responsibility
      of duty

He chortles and plays
   until I give in and join 
      in a dance of rejoicing
till he’s good and ready
   to jog back to the car

Good job, I say, and pat his head
   with his panting gaze
      he returns the compliment
and the two of us return home
   to a well earned breakfast

by Celeste Boudreaux, July 2019

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