The dog’s backyard is her domain,
a vital part of herself.
She polices it, sniffing out
marauding cats and
prowling hedgehogs.
The cats are routed
at high speed
with growls and loud barks.
She bites curled up hedgehogs
then cries when their spikes
pierce her tongue.
Now she is led firmly inside
to have the spikes removed.
The luxuriant foliage
of the vegetable garden
with fascinating odours
is minutely nosed at row by row
for possible animal scents.
The gardener works
under her surveillance,
pulled up weeds are all sniffed.
The sunny concrete path
is a warming pad
for middle aged limbs and back,
the shady trees a summer refuge
for a panting matron in a fur coat.
Her inspection of
her domain complete
the dog stretches out
dozing in the sun.
Originally posted 1 Jan 2016.
lifecameos 