puppy

sometimes think

I am the person

who doesn’t notice

other people

don’t get along

because they see me

lollop up

to their

relationship

like an enthusiastic

puppy

so they smile

pretend

because they

don’t want

to hurt my

feelings or

destroy

a loyal naivety

of course

might just be

overthinking

and

egotising

after all

would anyone

change their behaviour

for me?

Photo by Marliese Streefland on Unsplash

I’d like to get a brown and white dog
a dog-dog
with a pointy nose, not too sharp
triangle ears. No, floppy ears
like a spaniel
or terrier
maybe a black and white dog
not too shaggy
or a smooth-toffee Weimaraner
but you pay an arm and a
leg for those
a short-hair mutt
good with children
likes to run
not too energetic
must enjoy lazy afternoons
watching How To Train Your Dragon
medium-sized
a smart dog who
only barks happily
jumping in the waves
or defensively
when the situation is grave
and if the kids fall in a hole
“What’s that Skip? The old quarry? I’ll be right away!”
OK
that was a kangaroo.
A handsome dog. A nice dog
not Lassie, or Timmy or The Littlest Hobo or Flipper… oh
that was a dolphin.
The right dog
a dog-dog. A dog…
woof