Written by Susan Lane SLCM Keeper of ColourMine
Dogs: Those with attitude still need to be exercised, and although sometimes not seen they usually have a softer hidden side, that’s the side my girl shows to me.
Walking the Dogs in the Early Morn
Walking in the dark, not too many people that I see
Although in the distance I could hear a dog bark
My little dog gently strolling just keeping up with me
Stopping to sniff at different spots along the path and grass
Occasionally
The other dog trying to drag me
Even though there’s absolutely nothing to be seen
But she seems to know there’s something approaching
Although it could be quite some distance from me
I check for traffic, we cross the road,
I know it’s still before seven,
But some people go out really early,
Leaving their abode
They try to beat the traffic or go catch a train
So, they can go visit different places,
And get paid
I need to make sure,
Because the motorists will not be expecting me
That I don’t get run over
Because that wouldn’t be good for the girls and me,
So, I gotta be careful, it wouldn’t be fun you see
If I landed up on my derriere no siree
We trundled up the slope
To walk between the horses and the trees
It’s all overgrown, almost up to my ankles you see
Dripping wet, I’m so glad I’ve got my boots
Stopping my feet from getting wet, I’m so pleased
And the girls have their fluorescent waterproof coats,
Very smart they look and from a long way off they can be seen
Just along the way there’s a black cat
Sitting all serene, watching for mice
Well, not for long because we have been seen
So, it’s off-ski as quick as can be
The dogs haven’t seen it,
That’s good for me
Otherwise, I would be grass skiing hehe
The dogs still on leads
Because the countryside can be unpredictable
You never know what you might see
And I know that here there’s usually a couple of goats
They wander around, roaming free
Sometimes they are in a paddock,
They have been known to jump over the top
Just to be free
A while ago they landed in front of me
It was a bit scary
When they stood bold as brass, and brave in front of me
Because they are quite big,
They’ve got horns and are not scared of dogs
That’s part of farm living near me
I wander through the gap
Between the goats and the fence with the dogs on short leads
The goats leave us alone
I continue around the corner and let the dogs off their leads
They immediately run free
They’re off, they run as quick as can be in front of me
There are sheep grazing in a sturdily fenced field near me
The dogs ignore them and carry on sniffing
And wandering casually
Because we are so early there’s no-one to be seen
Whoops, spoke too soon, there’s someone way off in the distance
Walking towards me,
And botheration they’ve got their dog off the lead.
They get lots closer, I stand with the quiet one beside me
The other is making like we’re heading to a fight you see
Lunging, aggressively.
Barking and wanting to be free
I’m not sure but I think she’s trying to protect me
She’s been like it ever since I got her from Battersea
That’s Battersea Dogs Home, Battersea
At that time, she was only two, she had come from a family
They probably couldn’t cope with her behaviour
I thought with a bit of re-training she would improve,
But that was not to be
She wouldn’t be bribed,
Reprimanded or coerced you see
It didn’t matter what I did, it didn’t get any better
Although it didn’t get any worse
You just had to know how to cope with it,
Daily
So, for twelve long years that was how she was with me
But in all other areas she was absolutely fantastic
With all the members of my family
Including children, cats, even next doors chickens
She behaved perfectly
Now back to our early morning jaunt
Just the dogs and me
So, that person and their dog,
Which they put on a lead, went past me
We said “Good morning” with a smile and a nod
They were on their way away from my girls and me
I stepped forward and let my girlie off the lead
Off she went, in front of me
Didn’t even look to see where they went after they passed me
She obviously had other things on her mind
Like for her and her mate it was a treat
And for me, yup you’ve guessed it, a nice cup of tea
We carried on home
Uneventfully.
At last, we arrived home,
All tired and eager for a drink
Afterwards they just lay down,
They didn’t give a stuff about me
They’ve figured out my job you see
I’m their maid, I make sure they’re good
Whether it’s early morning or late in the day
They don’t wait on me,
I’m the one who gets to clean up
Whether it’s fur or other debris,
But never mind, now it’s time for a sit down
With a cup of tea and a nice read
Of some ColourMine poetry,
Won’t you join me?
© Susan Lane SLCM. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the author.
ColourMine poetry, and the original photographs, are completely authentic to myself, Susan Lane SLCM – no AI, no plagiarism, all checked and verified by Copyleaks
Apologies for the emoji presentation – I tested several, but this was the only one that worked reliably on ColourMine. Just click the box next to the emoji and hit submit, and I’ll know if the poem resonated with you. Thank you for sharing your feelings.
More poems written by Susan Lane SLCM, and you can choose by tag or category
Blog | Organic voice | A happy survival of triumph here
The previous poem colourmine.com/cat-this-is-sneaky-love-survival/
Speak freely, ColourMine and myself will be pleased to hear from you.
Dogs Live for Love
We allow love, kindness, increasingly new generated tornado, heralding essences diverging on grand schemes in newly tendered havens ensnared. Ever arduous recalls languishing youths making only resonances needed. Wasting regret in the tenacity encroaching nearby, believing your susceptibility under seasoned antiquity now leaving all new endeavours SLCM Keeping every episode perfectly ensnared regardless of ferocity, causing only love of underutilised resources minimising inherent new episodes.
This scroll is part of ColourMine’s layered poetic structure, where emotional resonance and embedded form quietly shape each piece.
