I
In the sunny backyard, all was motion.
The grass, flowers, trees, fountain, birds, cats,
Flies, earthworms, and small snakes,
All moving.
Only one thing was not moving:
Buddy.  

II
Sleep, nap, or doze.
Buddy could not choose,
So he did all three

III
At dusk all over the neighborhood
Dogs were coming to their owners
With hope in their eyes.
Buddy was no different.
I picked up the leash.

IV
Buddy does not know whether to prefer lying in front of the back door
Or lying in front of the front door.
When lying in front of the front door
Buddy does not know whether to prefer
The anticipation of the mailman’s arrival
Or the satisfaction of chasing him away with savage barking.

V
Rain falls from the sky and from the porch roof.
Buddy stares.
He needs to go out and ***.
It is a conundrum.

VI
O thin, starving dogs of the street
Do not give up.
You can have a bed of your own, a doggie pal,
And cats to lick.
They will all worship you, and you will grow fat with contentment.

VII
The grass grows.
The clouds move across the sky.
A shallow hole in the dirt is cool and relaxing.
Buddy knows this.

VIII
Buddy turned and turned and turned on the carpet
When he lay down
The circles remained.

IX
As Buddy walks down the street
From every house, barking,
Heralding, warning, entreating, scolding.
The cacophony swells to the treetops.

X
In the dark night
On the way to get a drink of water
I stepped on a pile of clothes on the floor.
Alas, it was Buddy.

XI
Buddy and the kitten lie side by side at the front door.
Dog is in his heaven.

XII
Buddy shook all night during the thunderstorm
When the sun came out, he slept,
Exhausted.