You Look At Me Confused

Poet's Notes

(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Robert Wagner.

The realization that comes with an injury, is that the impact of the injury is not just isolated to the one who is injured, but impacts the lives of all those in the household. Our Boxerdore dog, Belle (yes, she has the face of a Labradore, the upper body coloring of a Labrador, and the ear of a Harry Potter house elf, but the rest of her, including her disposition is all Boxer), who loved to jump up on my lap, all of a sudden couldn't do that for a while. The look in her eyes seem to say, "Why am I being punished for you being clumsy and falling?" Hence, this little poem.

You look at me confused, haunches poised to leap upon my lap. Eager to slobber my face with kisses, and for your ears to be scratched. I stop you, arm extended, with a strongly articulated, “No!” Initially, you look confused, then hurt wondering what wrong you have committed. I smile, and pet your head, my smile conveying, “It’s alright. Not yet, but soon.” You turn, and hop up on the leather couch, turning three times, and plop into the nest you created, and, sigh. © 2019, The Book Of Ruth, Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 11/6/2023 4:02:00 PM

What a sweet poem! After an injury and wanting to avoid further pain, especially. Thank goodness they are forgiving. Sometimes too though, for other reasons, we may react a bit stronger than we'd have wished. I know they don't quite understand why they can't give us a big sweet slobbery kiss, but sometimes it's just like..."Sorry fella, I just saw you giving yourself a spit bath of sorts. so NO!!" It is sad how we react sometimes, though understandable from a human viewpoint. They are so precious. With an apology and kind words along with a gentle pet on the head, they know they are loved and they are quick to forgive, knowing we love them so! I love your poem as well.