Note on the small dog… Obsession

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Sue Vincent

Her favourite ball had been lost in the bushes,
In spite of the brambles, the thorns and the rushes,
We’d looked for it everywhere, to no avail
And the small dog was sad with no wag in her tail.

For almost a month she’d refused to play ‘fetch’;
With the air of a glum, inconsolable wretch
She had ducked when I’d thrown every ball that she had,
And believe me, she knows how to make me feel bad!

Then the ball guy comes round, so I warn of her grief,
And he looks at the doglet in sheer disbelief…
She is wagging her tail and her sorrow’s worn thin
As she drops a new ball at his feet with a grin.

She has groomed it and fetched it and chased it with glee…
Why couldn’t she just do the same thing for me?
I may feel redundant, but also feel joy
That she’s finally chosen a new special toy.

It just goes to show, though, that fixing your fate
On that one single object is closing the gate
That can lead you to happier places and dreams…
And focus is not always all that it seems.

The small dog has so many balls she could chase
But she only saw one, that no ball could replace…
Until love and laughter had shown her the way
She’d almost forgotten the best way to play.

It isn’t the ball that is thrown, for a start,
The joy’s in the sharing that comes from the heart…
Forgetting obsession and choosing a ball
Left one small dog bouncing, in no time at all.

Action shots of Ani by my son, Nick Verron

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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69 Responses to Note on the small dog… Obsession

  2. Ritu says:
    August 15, 2017 at 17:10

    Oh I’m so glad you found a new ball to love Ani!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. Judy E Martin says:
    August 15, 2017 at 17:35

    What a delight for you all now that Ani has got her mojo back as well as a new favourite ball!! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. D. Wallace Peach says:
    August 15, 2017 at 17:38

    Yay! Ani found a new special ball. The urge to play must have been overwhelming. Great action shots! And not a sad eye in the post.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Marilyn Armstrong says:
    August 15, 2017 at 17:55

    At the moment, Duke has TWO balls, but only one is The Fetching Ball. if he’s in the mood, he will fetch anything you throw, but the enthusiasm, the bounce, the delight — just one of them. That’s also the one he really chomps and tugs at so that it’s less a ball than a roundish “thing” that has memories of ball-ness in its round-isn brain. I have 16 more balls. I hope that at least some of them will be greeted with verve!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. vanbytheriver says:
    August 15, 2017 at 17:57

    So happy for the return to joy. Yay, Ani.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Adele Marie says:
    August 15, 2017 at 18:02

    So happy for Ani, lots of paw love Dante. xxx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. robbiesinspiration says:
    August 15, 2017 at 18:41

    So happy to read that Ani has a new ball, Sue.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. willowdot21 says:
    August 15, 2017 at 18:49

    Glorious 💜, I am do pleased!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Mary Smith says:
    August 15, 2017 at 18:51

    So pleased Anmi has found joy again. Nick’s taken a great photo of her – you can see her joy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. jenanita01 says:
    August 15, 2017 at 19:35

    Good to see Ani enjoying herself at last…

    Like

    Reply
  14. OIKOS™-Redaktion says:
    August 15, 2017 at 19:36

    Wonderful, and true. Our former cat also had her “one and only” ball.

    Like

    Reply
  15. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    August 15, 2017 at 19:59

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    An update on the lost ball that Ani was missing and refusing to accept all others… until……. Sue treats us to some verse on the subject and glad to see Ani back with a wag in her tail.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. noelleg44 says:
    August 15, 2017 at 21:39

    Clearly in this case, it was the thrower of the ball that forced her to make a choice! She looks so joyful!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. lovessiamese says:
    August 15, 2017 at 22:09

    Love this poem/story. Animals are so precious to us. My psychology professor made a statment in class one day that animals can’t think and don’t have feelings. My response: “You’ve never had a pet, have you?”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. ravenhawks magazine says:
    August 15, 2017 at 22:52

    Yay Ani got her groove back!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. dgkaye says:
    August 16, 2017 at 00:27

    Thanks goodness girls! And loveeeeee the happy photo. 🙂 xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. bobcabkings says:
    August 16, 2017 at 00:52

    Glad for both of you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. Eliza Waters says:
    August 16, 2017 at 02:22

    Yay, Nick! Maybe he should have come round sooner?
    Great poem, Sue, you have a great gift for rhyme!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  23. Marje @ Kyrosmagica says:
    August 16, 2017 at 05:52

    That’s a great action shot of Ani with her new ball. Glad she’s found a new play thing again. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  24. Jessica Bakkers says:
    August 16, 2017 at 08:58

    Nawwww so cute! Glad she’s finally settled on a replacement ball!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. Widdershins says:
    August 17, 2017 at 02:51

    YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!! … ** waves arms like Kermit** 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  26. Lynette d'Arty-Cross says:
    August 17, 2017 at 07:22

    Great photos. 🙂 Glad that Ani is happily ball chasing again. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  27. macjam47 says:
    August 19, 2017 at 21:39

    Such a happy ending for Ani!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  28. BostonTerrierLover says:
    September 6, 2017 at 21:42

    That poor dog. I hope you can find another ball just like that one! Or maybe she will be more careful next time!

    Like

    Reply

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