Steven J.

Everyday, after school,

when I stagger up the gravel driveway and shove open the door,

My dogs bark and whine and moan.

One dances around in circles,

while the other trots back and forth,

with a simple command they hurry to their crates in the hallway,

Where they wait as I measure their food.                                                                          

An impatient dog will run to the door,

And bark in hopes of making me go faster

But the house must be quiet,

So I freeze and look at my dog,

To give her the message that barking will only slow me down.

She goes to and from her crate,

With a disgruntled bark every time she realizes it’s not helping,

While the other complains,

Annoyed, that he is not getting his food because of her.

She gets a fish oil food,

To prevent her injury from bothering her,

He gets a regular beef flavored

Both get a spoonful of tomato sauce,

As a treat,

And to keep the stains of the grass.

I set hers down in the kitchen,

And open the door to the hallway where the dogs are waiting.

She charges past me and begins her meal,

He jumps three feet in the air trying to get a taste,

until I set it down for him to eat

I shut the door,

so he does not attempt to take her food.

When they are finished, he will lick both dishes clean,

and she will wander around for any crumbs.

Both will be let outside,

And given water to drink

Then the house will become calm once more,

And the dogs will seek a comfortable place to lie down and rest.