The small dog’s obsession

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Sue Vincent

The small dog had a special ball

She loved with all her heart,

She groomed it, chased it, cared for it

As though they’d never part.

*

 But one sad day it disappeared

Into the distant field,

A thorough search through grass and thorn

No trace of it would yield.

She has a lot of tennis balls

So, conscious of her plight,

I’ve thrown each one a hundred times

But none of them are right.

*

She looks up all expectantly

Then ducks, or lets it fall,

Somehow she knows that what I throw

Is not her special ball.

She just looks lost and awful sad,

And turns away instead.

I’ve tried with balls both old and new

She just retreats to bed.

*

She will not chase, she will not play,

She will not seek or fetch…

For days she’s looked all sad and hurt

And made me feel a wretch.

I know she’ll choose another ball

But meanwhile, what to do?

I hate to see the small dog

Looking all bereft and blue.

*

I know that I’ve complained a lot

About her ball-obsession

But I’d do anything to give

Her back her prized possession.

I feel I have betrayed her trust

And watch her deprivation,

I know her ball was all about

Love and communication.

*

She always brought it back, you see,

And always shared her joy,

It’s all about the love for her,

Not just about a toy.

Yet accidents will happen

And although I’ve searched the ground

And all the trees and bushes there

Her ball cannot be found.

*

I’ve fed her treats and cuddled her

But nothing helps at all…

I want to see her laugh again

And chase a tennis ball.

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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77 Responses to The small dog’s obsession

  1. Mary Smith says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:12

    Oh, poor Ani – and poor you because you probably feel worse than she does. I hope the precious ball may turn up yet.

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  2. trentpmcd says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:13

    Poor Ani. I once spent 30 minutes digging up a snow drift to get a ball back. One of the neighbors came out and asked if I need help finding my marbles for surely that is what I had lost in that drift 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. tlryder says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:21

    My dog does this as well. He is capable of some fairly serious mourning!

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  5. D. Wallace Peach says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:38

    Aww. That sad face would have me searching the bushes and trees too. What a cutie.

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  6. Bobby Fairfield says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:42

    Lovely rendering of a familiar situation, mine acts as if she’s forgotten it but I’m not sure

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  7. Alethea Kehas says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:45

    Oh those eyes. I just want to give her a hug ❤

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  8. Ritu says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:52

    Oh poor Ani!!!

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  9. robbiesinspiration says:
    July 6, 2017 at 17:58

    Oh no, Sue. How sad. Poor Ani.

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  10. bobcabkings says:
    July 6, 2017 at 18:19

    Ani does sad face much too well.

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  11. willowdot21 says:
    July 6, 2017 at 18:24

    Poor Ani , Ruby loves her tennis balls too. If she looses one she makes us feel guilty! It is amazing that they know which ball is which 💗💜💙💟

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  12. Nathi says:
    July 6, 2017 at 18:46

    Oh poor Ani….but she looks so adorable! I’m in love with her😘

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  13. Helen Jones says:
    July 6, 2017 at 18:57

    Poor Ani 😦 I hope her ball turns up x

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  14. Jessica Bakkers says:
    July 7, 2017 at 00:30

    Nawww, poor bubby.

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  15. ravenhawks magazine says:
    July 7, 2017 at 02:02

    Poor Ani I hope she gets over her misery soon.

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  16. Eliza Waters says:
    July 7, 2017 at 02:43

    Oh, poor wretched Ani. Maybe in the fall it’ll come to light? Will she remember it by then?

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  17. watchingthedaisies says:
    July 7, 2017 at 10:45

    Such a poignant tail. I wish the ball will be found. 😐

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  18. friendlyfoodforus says:
    July 7, 2017 at 13:29

    I have 3 border collies and know this story all too well 😊

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  19. Victoria Zigler (@VictoriaZigler) says:
    July 7, 2017 at 13:54

    Poor Ani! I hope she adopts a new favourite ball soon… It must be breaking your heart to see her so sad because her favourite ball is gone.

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  20. Sarah Brentyn says:
    July 8, 2017 at 02:26

    Oh my she is ADORABLE in her sadness. Sorry. Poor Ani. You captured her moods so well. I hope she finds that ball (or a suitable replacement) very soon. Sweet thing. She is gorgeous. ❤

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    • Sue Vincent says:
      July 8, 2017 at 07:43

      She is the most expressive and photogenic creature…and knows it, Sarah. Thankfully, we seem to have a tentative reconciliation with a new ball going on,,, 😉

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  21. dgkaye says:
    July 8, 2017 at 02:40

    Aw poor Ani. Dear Ani, sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and trade up and say goodbye to old things. You can do it! ❤

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  22. Adele Marie says:
    July 8, 2017 at 17:01

    Oh no, Ani. My heart gets sad to think you are sad. Please pick a new ball. I knows it won’t be like your old one but you musts be happy again, please. much paw love Dante xxx

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  23. Marje @ Kyrosmagica says:
    July 9, 2017 at 06:46

    Oh my! How Ani was attached to her very speciall ball. Bless her.

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  24. Hugh's Views and News says:
    July 9, 2017 at 16:05

    Toby tends to rip the coat off any tennis ball he gets hold of, and it doesn’t last long. I hope Ani gets over the loss of her favourite tennis ball, Sue. Who knows, maybe whoever has it will throw it back over the fence? Can the cows in the field, or those starlings throw a ball? 🤔 Goodness, I hope a cat hasn’t found it.

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  25. Judy E Martin says:
    July 9, 2017 at 18:03

    Oh no, poor Ani. I hope that you manage to find her ball or that she finds a different one to love.

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  26. Denis1950 says:
    July 10, 2017 at 09:12

    A very sad story Sue and even sadder for Ani. How are your high jump skills? or a large thick rubber mat touching the ground as a second option because it clearly lies beyond that electric fence.

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  27. patriciaruthsusan says:
    July 12, 2017 at 08:35

    I agree both of you have suffered. Maybe one of the cows ate it. I’ve heard of them eating strange things. I hope she cheers up soon. 😦 — Suzanne

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