Welcome.

She rests.

So do I.

She breathes calmly.

I like having her curled body next to me.

She seems to enjoy the closeness.

I crave it.

I stroke the underside of her belly.

She opens her eyes.

I know our nap has come to an end.

She jumps from the bed and thrashes on the carpet.

Looks to be a seizure, but no.

Just wildly stretching.

And then the cat prance walk,

To free the leg kinks.

I slide off the bed and to the floor.

She’ll want to play.

She’ll need a tug-of-war partner.

Someone to toss her favorite green football.

Again and again and yet again.

Or swipe the blue ball from her mouth.

She likes to be chased around the couch.

And out back on the patchy lawn.

And hear my human growls,

Poor imitations of her barks.

All her energy makes me feel young again,

And I remember the vitality of youth.

She knows what I mean when I say the walk word.

She runs through the kitchen doggie door and waits for me in the garage.

She prances along like a deer,

Sniffing, seeing, feeling, being.

She sometimes walks me.

We ride the motorcycle.

We speed too fast.

The wind rushes upon us both.

We like it.

And when it’s grooming time,

She endures it

For the cup pup prize.

It’s her ultimate joy.

And I’m so happy she loves cool whip heaven.

When I come home from work,

She hears me.

She waits by the outside door.

I can hear her whining.

When finally I turn the key in the dark,

I can tell she is glad I’ve come.

I scoop her up.

She licks me good.

I giggle, and she knows I am pleased.

She is my baby.

I am a mom.

She needs me,

And I need her.

Where I go, she follows.

She depends on me

For all she deserves to thrive.

And like a caring parent,

I am happy to provide it.

She is a gift from God.

A something better one.

She never replaces the want for a child,

But she brings me so much joy.

There is a lovely wonder to her.

She gave me the chance to be a mother.

Rescued from empty arms and a quiet house.

We bought her,

But she saved me.

I am a dog mom.