One For the DogsSandy Conlon

“Hot Diggity Dogs” by Jackie Grimaldi & Madeleine Vail

One for the Dogs

By Sandy Conlon

I snuggled up with a dozen dogs or more but couldn’t be sure of the number, maybe half of that in butterflies and one bright red cardinal preening.

The marvel was how warm it felt while they too rested watchful and waiting eager to play fetch orfrolic in the snow.

Alas, they, like mine of yesterday, were stuck in quiet repose their coarse and silken coats in cloth transformed still waiting for someone to call their name.

Come! Spot, Mavis, Punto, and Rover

Millie, Bruno, Cephus, and Clover

Call each dog from all the world over.

Still they lingered, finely stitched and woven into quilted space, among the leaves, butterflies, and others like themselves who no longer longed for human touch or heard someone call their name.

Yet I dream of spirit dogs and see my own, who will not again understand the purist joy of chase and play or sit near by at the close of day.

Softly I pull the cover over me, marvel at the magic of needle & thread and revel in the present warmth of distant dogs everywhere.