pitching the stick
across the swift mountain stream
and watching the streaking pup lunge
dive and splash
long Labrador strokes
the moment he reaches midway
I take my own lunge
but in the opposite direction
my 6’5”frame moves as fluid
as the minor river
as I jump and run up the bank
and dive into the car
slamming it into first and sending gravel
flying
I drop second and check the rearview
lil ole pup dripping and dashing
hits the road at warp speed
turns the corner and begins to make headway
easing into third
I slow slightly as to encourage a push
******* dog hit 35 miles per hour
that sunny day in July
back in ’07 –