Dog Dilemma

 

—Poetry by Laura Stamps, Columbia, S. Carolina

—Photos Courtesy of Public Domain

 

 

 

SUNFLOWERS
 
My friend tells me she wants a dog.  
But this she’s worried about. You  
know. That you have to walk a  
dog. Outside. Twice a day. Maybe  
more. To do its business. Although  
harnesses are really cute. Leashes  
too. So many colors to choose from.  
Even floral patterns. Even sunflowers.  
Her favorite. Okay. She’ll figure it out.  

 

 

 

 

 

STORMY WEATHER
 
My friend tells me she wants a dog.  
But she’s still not sure. You know.  
About walking a dog. Outside.  
Every day. Twice. At least. To do  
its business. I mean. What if it’s  
raining? Snowing? An ice storm?  
Or worse? We go to PetSmart.  
I show her the pee pads. All sizes.
Okay. She tells me. This could work. 

 

 

 

 

 

IT’S MAGIC
 
My friend tells me she wants a dog.  
But her husband says No. Says  
dogs are too expensive. The vet  
bills. The grooming bills. Too  
much. He says. I whisper in her  
ear. Two words. Magic words:  
Pet Insurance. I find the link. Text  
it to her. She smiles. Her husband  
glares at me. He doesn’t trust  
me. He shouldn’t. Smart man.  

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT SHE KNOWS
 
My friend tells me she wants a dog.  
She joins one of those Chihuahua  
groups. On Facebook. Hours and  
hours. She spends there. Reading  
through comments. Learns so much.  
She does. Every detail. Of dog  
ownership. Like today. It was fleas.  
Flea collars or topicals. Which is  
better? Now she knows. Do you? 

 

 

 

 

 

IT’S GOOD TO BE PREPARED
 
My friend tells me she wants a dog.  
A small one. A Chihuahua. But  
her husband still says No. A plan.  
That’s what she needs. That’s  
what I tell her. We go to PetSmart.  
Make a list of supplies. Dog food,  
pee pads, bed, collar, leash, toys,  
harness, treats. We have a blast.  
But tell no one. Especially him.
 
___________________

Today’s LittleNip:

The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.

―Samuel Butler

___________________

Thanks to Laura Stamps for today’s story about her friend! Laura’s new novella, The Good Dog (Prolific Pulse Press), is out now, and if you live in the US, you can get an autographed copy from her by sending your postal address to LauraStamps18@yahoo.com/. And happy birthday, Laura!

Sacramento Poet Laureate Andru Defeye is hosting a reading series during April and May, called the First Church of Poetry, on Sundays at noon in Sacramento’s McKinley Park. This Sunday will feature Stan Padilla and the Anti-Jazz Alliance. Click UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS at the top of this column for details about this and other future poetry events in the NorCal area—and keep an eye on this link and on the Kitchen for happenings that might pop up during the week.

 

For more about National Poetry Month, including ways to celebrate, see https://poets.org/national-poetry-month. And sign up for Poem-a-Day at https://poets.org/poem-a-day/, plus read about Poem in Your Pocket Day (this year, April 27) at https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day/.

So here’s the question: Did Laura’s friend get a dog?

___________________

—Medusa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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