i hate seeing our puppy
in pain
and distress
but it’s almost sadder to see her
happy
and jovial
and so very puppy-like
when we know we can’t let her
act on that energy
for another full month
lest she break something else
my goodness
this puppy
little puppy
tiny acl tear
even teenier fracture
why are you like this?
happy birthday to this
scruffy
little
bundle of
joy
menacing
hassles
shedding
playfulness
whining
dozens of different barks
slightly uneven eyes
thumping tail
reverse mustache
ear fluff
too much intelligence for her own good
scratching and digging
and so much destruction
silliness
and sleepy belly time
love
healing
harmonizing
floopy ears
and genetically terrible knees
[and at only one year old
that’s just the tip of the
puppy iceberg]
Happy Birthday, Computer!!!
find sure footing
feel no floating
establish boundaries
no barriers
to your creativity
with only words
~~~
i did it
i performed
and this poem would be so much better
if i’d written it that
(or the next)
day
but i have to say
the feelings
of musical theatre magics
are starting to sneak up on me
again
(and i’m really unsure
how i feel about
that)
~~~
staying up
until midnight
to give the pup
the pill she needs
to not be in pain
all night long
but for me
for my mind
i probably should have been asleep hours ago…
the puppy
has lost
her ball
probably
under
the coffee
table
perhaps whining at us
and barking at it
will make its
return
hasten
(it worked
because
i’m
a pushover)
]
\[;’
;Po
[this poem is from the puppy
by way of her favorite
red tennis ball]
oh yeah!
i wrote
last night
creatively
script-ily
a whole scene
i can do it
i can write
(other than poetry)
but i sure can
still write
a whole bunch
of
poems
~~~
there are things
to do
today
and i’m actually
excited
to do them?
~~~
sad
puppy dog eyes
gazing up at me
as if i could protect her
from everything
i will try, Computer,
i will try
the puppy
plays with her ball
not a care in the world
meanwhile
the cat
cares deeply
about the food
that has yet to be
hand-delivered
to her
snickerdoodles
and pumpkin pecan coffee
and spooky tunes
and writing poems
all
for
breakfast
~~~
i know
that it’s not
the same
but seeing our tiny puppy
in pain
reminds me of the stories
parents tell
of seeing their children
hurt
or sick
for the first time
and how frustrating it feels
to be utterly helpless
to not be able to explain to your baby
‘this cough will pass
you just need to rest’
or
‘i can’t magically make you better
even though i give you
every other
necessity
needed
for life’
wanting to do everything
and being able to do nothing
and those eyes asking for the world
which you’d give
in an instant
if you
only
could
~~~
thank you
Louka
for the treats
with the natural pain relief
so this puppy could get excited
about them
instead of concentrating on
her hurt leg
and helping her
sleep
some pain
away
the puppy
and the cat
are not mortal enemies
they may, in fact
simply be
frenemies
(though,
perhaps
that’s all from the cat’s
perspective
the puppy
100% believes
they’re besties
or at least could/should be.)
kipventures 