A poem with two perspectives upon the same thing, from Mary at dVerse. In essence the the first perspective of this poem represents me. The second really represents David as he walks the dogs. However, I just speak from the first person. Jack is our black dog, getting old now, pushing 13. Patty – having become Paggy is still full of vim and vigor at about 5 years of age. They are each rescue dogs.
I open the door
downstairs
mid-day
Two furry noses
greet me in their
special way
Wet and wooly
they emit nothing
but love
Each snuggles under
a different hand
This is true
friendship
pure
Never would either
stray or
leave me
for another
It was always
love at first site
And it would
forever remain
that way
Yet on this
cold
and windy night
the snow
drifting but light
I would question
is my love
as deep and
as pure
as without question
as theirs
as I put on
his collar
and grapple with
leashes
reaching under
her belly
to fit her harness
knowing
that in a
minute
out there I
would be
struggling against
the wind and
the snow
My scarf
becoming
a frozen maul
as it scratches
my face
and scraping now
frozen skin
I ask myself
Is it really worth it
These two mutts
Why did I get
them
rescue them
why
They are nothing
but work
nothing
but trouble
Who wants to
be out in the
in the snow
on a night
like this
grappling with
two lunging
dogs
as they play
pulling
you this way
and that
noh where 
ah they’re cute… i had a dog when i was a kid and i was supposed with him to walk him an hour every day…rain or snow or heat…didn’t matter…some days i hated it but loved him enough to go anyway…and make him happy..smiles… and sometimes we walked forever…
Liz, I do understand both perspectives in this poem. Dogs definitely are a delight & loyal to the max; but they also are difficult — especially in this horrible weather we (and you) are having of late. It is hard for the dogs to be OUT to do what they need to do, but just as hard for dog owners to be out in the horrid weather. With my three dogs, sometimes I have to take 6 trips out in succession; as it is so cold that the dogs resist doing more than one thing at a time…thus they have a ‘rest’ between! But me — no rest — and SIX trips out into the cold. This is quite tiring with a wind chill of – 35; but still……on the other hand….they are worth it. Smiles. And I know you feel the same.
Having a dog myself, your poem made me smile. I usually enjoy walking her but not so much on cold or rainy days.
Don’t forget to put your link into dverse! I would do it for you, but am not sure what name you use. (You can delete this comment if you wish.)
the things we do for love eh? smiles…its like i tell my boys at times, in life you will do things you dont want to do, but for a good reason….and i think its a good reason to care for our family…pets are family…now if they could hurry up and go to the bathroom so we can go back inside that would be great…ha.
I can appreciate the preciousness of their loyalty combined with the simultaneous burden of their dependence.
What a great way to see things.. I don’t have dogs but go out in many weathers anyway.. Some days I only meet dog owners.. Though some of the owners seem to love to be out as much as the dogs.
I like the lovely contrasting comments and I have the feeling you know the answer to the questions you raise. Very well done.
love and dogs, great words and such devotion. I am not great with messy paws.
… but then you see their faces and know it’s all worth it. I mean who can resist?
Aww…look at those faces! Dogs are a lot of work but what they give in return…there’s no comparison. Little angels…
Oh, gorgeous heart-warming post. I miss having a dog. Unconditional love and so much enthusiasm.