Pat writes: “I love light verse. With it, I can comment on the human condition, store my thoughts neatly and amuse myself mightily at the same time.”

Below is short piece that Pat wrote about her beloved pooches, followed by several verses that they inspired.

* * *

I have loved and cared for three dogs in my adult life. They were all furry, white Cockapoo/Maltese types. I miss the love of a dog but, at my age, I’m not up to overseeing emergency trips to the backyard when nature calls in the middle of the night, losing sleep during thunderstorms and rushing to appointments with the vet.

I have two neighbors who supply me with “dog fixes” from time to time. One brings a Havanese who blasts in like a hurricane, locates her squeaky toy in its usual place and proceeds to run, roll on her back and squeak her little heart out until she is exhausted. The other is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who flows in like a river, dragging her leash behind her. She heads straight for my favorite chair and waits patiently until I join her on the floor. She knows there will be pettings and tummy rubs until the visit is over.

There will always be a place in my heart for dogs. My people love me but they don’t dance in circles when I come home.

SIGNALING INTENTIONS

While human smiles

Are all quite viable,Wagging tails

Are more reliable.

* * *

OBEDIENCE TRAINING

The command is, “Come!”

Okay, you can stay.Perhaps you could heel

Then we’ll be on our way.

Let’s put on the leash—So you’d rather just prance

And circle my feetWith your cute little dance.

You know that we’ve been

To obedience classAnd we passed by the skin

Of our teeth, but alas,

The teacher’s philosophySticks in my mind.

She firmly believes inNo dog left behind.

* * *

DROPPING IN WOODS ON A SUMMER EVENING

The woods are lovely, dark and deep

And we have promises to keep:So when our dogs heed nature’s calls

We must pick up whatever falls.

* * *

THE WISDOM OF BUGS

Bugs, our dog, was family—

I hold her in my heart.There wasn’t anything we did

In which she had no part.She brought us up when we were down

And saw us through the worst.With every breath she ever drew,

Her love for us came first.One day when she was getting old,

A dire illness came.We fought with everything we had.

There was no one to blame.She told each person separately—

A look, a touch, a lick—The pain is getting worse each day

And I am very sick.I know that you will be alright

And that you love me, so,You’re going to have to help me now

Because it’s time to go.

* * *

BUG’S BUNNY

Bunny’s our little Maltese.

Our love for her knows no bounds.It’s amazing how grief can ease

And love carries on and compounds.