curled close,
and that is my heart wandering
beyond the edges of my skin.
There is a jester who conquers with nonsense.
Ancient queens called, "Bring me my fool!",
but I am the witless one enticed into battle
over a headless rag that used to be a green frog.
See, Master? My heart is flown
and follows wherever you go,
like a colorful pennant declaring my imprimatur and blessing
over Lord Goodboi, royal dog!
________
for Sunday Muse #119.
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| Old King Bosco, blind but still all-seeing. I was (and am) his personal Sheep to herd. |
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| Young King Bosco, certain of a treat! |
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| Zacky Peanut, heir to the royal throne! |
I came into the poem with the human narrator, with "my heart wandering beyond the edges of my skin" and then toward the end the mind rebooting, the poem bringing re-calibration as to who is speaking. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI feel these same deep deep sentiments! The image evokes that devotion. The relationship we have with our four legged family is truly deep. I absolutely love the photos of Bosco and Zacky!! They could steal anyone's heart! Bosco still does in heaven. 💙
ReplyDeleteHuzzah! Huzzah! for Lord Goodboi! :) Thoroughly enjoyed poem and dog pics, especially as I am just realizing that I am also a sheep in someone's tiny herd. Hugs to all the pups. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, my heart pings at the photos of Bosco, your bright-hearted boi.....and Zacky, successor to the throne and keeper of your heart. Sigh. If only they could all stay alive, always. I love this post! I especially loved "Bring me my fool!" which happened to me too many times. Which is why dogs are better.
ReplyDeleteIf aliens are watching us pick up dog poop, they know who is the ruler and who is the ruled...
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures of Bosco and Zacky Peanut.
I love the opening verse. I felt I was wandering in your thoughts. The photos are adorable. Now, I see the dog curled up with you in bed. They are great companions.
ReplyDeleteGood boy, Goodboi! What a clever name. I live in an over-55 community. EVERYONE has a dog and the parade of dog-walkers past my window is daily entertainment.....from Yorkies to Great Danes, their "masters" trailing along behind with their little plastic baggies. Our two cats sit on my window seat observing the parade, lost in the wonder of it all!
ReplyDeleteThough you have chosen to make the recipients of this floating, flying sweet heart-weight your dogs, and who more worthy, of course, it carries a larger swell of all the love there is or could have been between ourselves and our beloveds. How we send it out, and how they send in the clowns...really beautifully said with just the right seasonings of sincerity and sentiment. Loved every word, Shay.
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ReplyDeleteI re-read this 3 times over! It was a pleasant twist at the end figuring out your narrator...and brilliant.
These pics make me laugh and cry at the same time. Very well crafted.
I have been wondering how Monsieur le Peanut has been doing. These god boys carry our hearts around their necks like a brightly colored scarf. Forever and always we love them. Bosco your all seeing angel and Zacky P who makes us all smile. I have read this several times, reveling in the love. I think if Brad with his beloved Chester, running around the fields of heaven.
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the beauty, the devotion pouring from the image. A heart is so blessed when it is filled with the love for and love from an adoring animal companion. That love is truly unconditional.
ReplyDeleteLove this... especially the first lines...!
ReplyDelete"my heart wandering
ReplyDeletebeyond the edges of my skin."
I could feel this intensely.
The dog was the icing on the cake!
Well said. So very well said.
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