Dog By Day

Woken by cold nose, I jump, look, she stretches in her yoga pose I laugh, she barks, it is a new day, she becomes a dog It is dawn, light peeps over the hills, looks to see if it is time Lights our way as we go to eat, a mess of 6 legs running Breakfast done we go to work Dust rises, motes reflecting sunlight, sand all around, heat Us two a picture of strange shades of colors Dog follows road, I follow dog, somewhere behind others follow us She looks back, regards me, I wonder what she thinks She turns, walks, nose lifted, back to work Dog stops and head turns to regard a goat I stop and regard the dog, Others stop and regard me We wait All goes silent, ears turn, nose sniffs, dog scans No sound fills the heat, hot air shivers upwards Dog shakes, walks a little stops and looks back I am sure she laughs at us all, her little joke For hours we walk, dog stops I stop Dog walks I walk, my litmus, my canary My sentinel, a fur bound explorer Our day is done, nothing much A walk for her, another expanse of smells Another erosion for me, a day survived We relax in our hut, our solace, our home My friend by my side, no longer a dog Helmund 2008