Old Dog

Was he happier before, I wonder
when he was young
and the world was new
to him

We played in the snow
for hours, just for fun
and he slept under the couch
then would sneak out while I slept and bite my fingers which dangled

He would bark at the planes flying over
and scare birds that came near
and howl at an ambulance or firetruck
like a wild thing unglued

yet he never barked at a dog,
nor turned an evil fang when provoked;
he was good

I would throw him a bone
which he would grab and retreat
by himself to chew and chew
then he would disappear
by himself to hide this treasure-
after prancing around for a while

He never knew any discipline as a pup
but he still listened ,which was wise
and on walks he would run ahead out of sight
then return all the time, to my side
I guess he was happy

though he ran away once with a friend ,
for a day, until arrested and taken to jail
but he was happy to come home
and stay

time passed and dark fur turned to grey
and his voice changed
and he spends long hours now in the shade
staring in the distance

One day I came home and he was there
with a 3 legged friend from next door
a cat and him, nose to nose
I'm not sure he knew it was a cat
since his eyes have grown dim
and he no longer hears,
though his nose still works

He can no longer go on walks,
with me, as his breath is so short
and his body grows weaker,
day by day

yet he never gives up
he would never know how
It would be nice if he made it to winter
so that him and the snow can be together,
once again ,

old friends