The small dog and the song of ‘hey…er, what the?’

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Sue Vincent

image: Pixabay

By the door an itchy small dog

Waits for access to the garden

Needs the cool of morning dewdrops

To appease the summer stifle

Bounds outside into the silence

Long before the birds have woken

Spots a space invader soaring

And the soundless dawn is broken

There above her guarded garden

Floating free a lone balloonist

Low and red above the treetops

Where the view should be unbroken

Dog offended by intrusion

Must defend her chosen air-space

Human counterpart goes diving

To begin the daily dog chase

“Shush, it’s early, folks are sleeping,

They don’t want to hear you barking!”

Dog escapes, growls impolitely

Disapproving of sky-larking.

Time to use the secret weapon

Offer treats, but unavailing,

Small dog still is on the warpath

And my options now are failing.

Wish for clouds or morning breezes

To disperse the sailing culprit,

Curtains twitch, I’m thinking, ‘oh sh…’

Neighbours will soon be complaining.

No time left for canine nonsense

Something must be managed quickly,

I’m not up to playing dog-chase,

Feeling rough and feeling sickly.

Only direst threats remaining

That might quell the bounding puppy,

One word just might stop her shouting

If she hears me…and I’m lucky.

“In! Or else I’ll clean your ears!”

Small dog quickly disappears…

With apologies to Longfellow (and the neighbours…)

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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47 Responses to The small dog and the song of ‘hey…er, what the?’

  1. willowdot21 says:
    July 11, 2019 at 14:08

    Lol absolutely great. You know Ani to a T.!! 💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. bobcabkings says:
    July 11, 2019 at 15:29

    Having read Ani’s opinion of ear cleaning and baths, it is easy to understand what a dire threat that was. She does take her guardian job very seriously.

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  3. pensitivity101 says:
    July 11, 2019 at 16:40

    Sweet Ani. Maggie doesn’t like having her ears cleaned either.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Ritu says:
    July 11, 2019 at 17:38

    Lol! 🥰

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  5. Marilyn Armstrong says:
    July 11, 2019 at 23:24

    Ah. JUST like Gibbs. A threat to clean his ears is THE WORST threat in the world. Cleaning his eyes is the second worst. He hates having parts of his body messed with!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. jenanita01 says:
    July 12, 2019 at 08:13

    Not sure how close the balloonist was, but it must have seemed scary to Ani…

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  7. Bobby Fairfield says:
    July 12, 2019 at 11:34

    The sentiment and metre are just right, I’m sure Longfellow would be proud

    Like

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  8. Violet Lentz says:
    July 12, 2019 at 17:38

    Oh Ani! She’s such a sp’ear’ited girl!!!

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  9. Widdershins says:
    July 13, 2019 at 00:45

    Heh, heh, heh … the ultimate threat! 😀

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  10. Jennie says:
    July 13, 2019 at 02:06

    This is delightful! Oh, Ani….

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  11. robbiesinspiration says:
    July 16, 2019 at 18:59

    What a great poem, Sue. Hugs to Ani.

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  12. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    July 17, 2019 at 15:24

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
    An Ode from Sue Vincent…shenanigans before dawn involving the small black dog with attitude… be easier herding cats… lovely and entertaining.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    July 17, 2019 at 15:25

    Hilarious Sue.. and have had my early morning escapades too… usually caused by squirrels bombarding their nemesis as he went out for his early morning pee in the garden.. only to wake every other dog up in the valley… xxxx

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  14. joylennick says:
    July 17, 2019 at 16:09

    Who’d be a dog, eh….Dear little Ani! xx

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  15. Donna W. Hill says:
    July 17, 2019 at 20:40

    Sue, this is priceless!

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  16. dgkaye says:
    July 17, 2019 at 22:58

    Lol Sue, despite Ani mostly getting her wishes, she still responds to threats. 🙂 ❤

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  17. Marje @ Kyrosmagica says:
    July 18, 2019 at 07:32

    Sue that photo and your poem! What a character Ani is 🙂

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    Reply
  18. Lyn Horner says:
    July 21, 2019 at 01:40

    Grinning here, not sure who to sympathize with, Ani or Sue. I mean cute doggie was just doing her guard dog job, defending her space. While Sue was trying to stop her precious companion from disturbing the peace and possibly anger her neighbors. So, who’s in the right here? I really can’t decide, but I can enjoy chuckling at the situation. LOL

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