I just ordered
My third cup of coffee
After all, I am in good company
Words spilled before me.

Could they have known —
I will always look for
The smell of old books
In this digital world.

Words, my words,
My heart treasures
To put pen to paper.

Time is unkind
For a writer,

Nothing is ephemeral.

You are
A page marked by a folded corner
A love I will come back to
In the future.

You are my best friend.
Loving, loyal and true.
Loving unconditionally,
I appreciate all that is you.

Sometimes you drive me mad,
When you disagree with me.
I want what's best for us.
My way to show I care, you see.

Everyday is much the same,
We both know the routine.
It starts with breakfast,
A time to share my dreams.

You recognise my moods
and listen to me intently.
You understand my feelings.
I feel your empathy.

Then off to work,
You watch me from the door.
With heavy heart I leave you.
Soon, I'll be with you once more.

The happiness you bring me.
Your welcome when I come home.
The guilt I feel,
Having left you all alone.

Your hugs are special
comforting and warm.
These moments, though infrequent
Make me keep you out of harm.

So now you wag your tail.
It's reached that time of day.
I'll get your ball and lead.
Walkies, let's go out to play.

Husband: I want a dog.
Wife: What! Why?
Husband: I need the company.
Wife: But, what about me?
Husband: You're just a ***** cat.

The groomed dog lies
Clean upon my sofa,
Resting,
His reward.

Resisted he
The urge to flee
Or bite the handler
While the groomer
Plied over the sopping ****,
Clipped the carpet-ripping nails,
Coiffed and primped him
Head to tail.

Waking,
He nuzzles me
With a brown-eyed stare,
Sidling close to my old brown chair.

This canine friend,
Just a dog in mien,
Communicates his needs,
Comforts me in loneliness,
Amuses me with dog-face grin,
Reads and responds
To the state that I'm in.

Dogs have habits, you bet they do.
They run and play, then eat and poo.

They Sleep all day, zoom, zoom all night.
They bark and bark, at something in sight.

They wait at the window or wait by the door.
To say hello to their people with eyes we adore.

Let's go for walk, they seem to be saying.
Really, oh really, that's my kind of playing!

They love without boundaries, they give the same way.
They are really true family and never, never betray.

Without them we are lost, so much that it hurts.
Pay attention to their habits, life with them, JUST WORKS.

Brian Hill - 2019#42