The small dog suffers …

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Sue Vincent

I tap away, I’m in full flow when, from her perch beside me,
The small dog reaches out a paw and touches me to chide me.
“Do you not love me any more? Perhaps you can’t abide me?
Oh, writer dear, it’s ten past five, so why is food denied me?”

I’m barely late with dinner and she’s eaten twice already,
Yet the accusing gaze is as demanding as it’s steady,
“I won’t be long, my girlie, give me just another minute…”
The competition’s on and we both know who’s going to win it.

She puts on the pathetic face, the one that’s never eaten,
Sucks in the cheeks and belly, knowing full well that I’m beaten.
I haven’t really eaten yet, but she’s had treats aplenty…
“Oh writer, only one or two…”, “Oh, small dog, nearer twenty!”

“I am so undernourished, see, I’m sure my ribs are showing…”
“Oh small dog, you are getting old, it’s widthways you are growing.”
She manages to somehow look offended and quite hurt,
“I think you win on age and width, Oh writer,” says she, curt.

True… but unfair, for though she was a puppy raised on meat,
She’ll even swallow lettuce to get half of all I eat.
“It’s called ‘the pecking order’, just by way of explanation,”
The small dog says, “and anyway… I can’t resist temptation…”

She lays her head upon my knee, looks up in desperation,
“Oh writer, now it’s twenty past, I’m dying of starvation!
I’m feeling faint from suffering such awful deprivation!”
She sighs and raises big brown eyes, a lethal combination.

“And while you make my dinner,” says she, looking like a martyr,
“You might as well just pass a treat, I’ll have it as a starter.”
I fill the bowl and pass the treat, we both know who’s the winner.
“And by the way, for afters, I shall help you eat your dinner.”

Unknown's avatar

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.
This entry was posted in Dogs, Humour, Poetry and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

97 Responses to The small dog suffers …

  1. mbrazfieldm's avatar mbrazfieldm says:
    August 30, 2019 at 06:07

    oh she melts me…. lol so cute, Sue

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Stuart France's avatar Stuart France says:
    August 30, 2019 at 06:17

    The Eeeevil One… 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. Ritu's avatar Ritu says:
    August 30, 2019 at 06:22

    That was Sonu Singh yesterday too. Think he was trying to guilt trip us as we were all out, back at school and work etc!
    Ani, you and your furry friends always win, don’t you? 🥰😻

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  4. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:
    August 30, 2019 at 07:33

    Aww, what a clever girl.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. robertawrites235681907's avatar robertawrites235681907 says:
    August 30, 2019 at 08:23

    The cutest poem ever, Sue.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatar The Story Reading Ape says:
    August 30, 2019 at 08:30

    Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
    Who could resist? 😀

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  7. Mary Smith's avatar Mary Smith says:
    August 30, 2019 at 08:46

    If there was an Oscar for dogs, Ani would win it hands down 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  8. V.M.Sang's avatar V.M.Sang says:
    August 30, 2019 at 09:23

    Oh, poor Ani! How can anyone resist such eyes!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. acflory's avatar acflory says:
    August 30, 2019 at 09:28

    Oh, Ani. I know a cat called Pippi who could be your twin! Sadly, I lose that battle every time too…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. patriciaruthsusan's avatar patriciaruthsusan says:
    August 30, 2019 at 10:03

    She’s certainly refined begging to an art. 😀 — Suzanne

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Jaye Marie & Anita Dawes's avatar jenanita01 says:
    August 30, 2019 at 10:37

    Too cute for words! We know what it’s like as we have a black and white beggar of our own!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. joylennick's avatar joylennick says:
    August 30, 2019 at 11:22

    Absolutely delightful, Sue. Ha ha. Our Irish Red Setter used to quietly sit with his paws on the line between dining-room and kitchen, every evening at 6.00 pm. Yep dinner-time. You could hardly forget it! x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. roughwighting's avatar roughwighting says:
    August 30, 2019 at 12:45

    SOOO adorable. Oh, the drama! The angst! The deprivation! Your poem is a delightful Point of View of a sweet spoiled but ohsocutiepie dog.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  15. pensitivity101's avatar pensitivity101 says:
    August 30, 2019 at 12:48

    She’s such a sweetheart. And ‘the look’ is familiar to all of us.
    It’s like a canine telepathy which makes us feel guilty!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Stuart Templeton's avatar Stuart Templeton says:
    August 30, 2019 at 12:59

    lolol How we poorly we all treat out pets and how unfair their life s must be – I’m sure our cats think they never get fed, they certainly act like it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. Victoria Zigler (@VictoriaZigler)'s avatar Victoria Zigler (@VictoriaZigler) says:
    August 30, 2019 at 14:48

    LOL! Yep… Sounds about right! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. Violet Lentz's avatar Violet Lentz says:
    August 30, 2019 at 14:49

    I love it love it love it!! And I love Ani!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. Marilyn Armstrong's avatar Marilyn Armstrong says:
    August 30, 2019 at 15:46

    The pathos alone can kill you. Sadly, though, eventually, you begin to see signs and for every time you ignored them to finish that piece of writing, there is an ache and a feeling of sorrow. For all the times I was too busy, I’m so sorry, even though I know she has not ever been even remotely underfed. And she WON’T eat lettuce and particularly loathes pickles.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Sue Vincent's avatar Sue Vincent says:
      September 1, 2019 at 22:00

      Oh, I understand that all too well. Ani, for all she still looks like a young pup, is not moving well and will only run to catch a close-thrown ball… and getting up is now awkward for her. All the walks we missed…all the adventures we didn’t get chance to share… No matter how many we did share, or how much fun we have had, those chances are ones we can never get back.

      Like

      Reply
  20. Alethea Kehas's avatar Alethea Kehas says:
    August 30, 2019 at 15:46

    Poor thing 😉 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. John W. Howell's avatar John W. Howell says:
    August 30, 2019 at 17:19

    A poem for all dog lovers. Well done, Sue

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  23. Adele Marie's avatar Adele Marie says:
    August 30, 2019 at 17:46

    Sounds just like, Dante. xxx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  24. willowdot21's avatar willowdot21 says:
    August 30, 2019 at 20:18

    They are all the same aren’t they!! 💜💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. noelleg44's avatar noelleg44 says:
    August 30, 2019 at 23:24

    Oh, Ani! You look so pathetic and deprived. Hang in there and have your two-legged give you extra hugs from us!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  26. Eliza Waters's avatar Eliza Waters says:
    August 31, 2019 at 01:44

    So funny… and SO accurate! How do they tell time without clocks?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  27. Widdershins's avatar Widdershins says:
    August 31, 2019 at 02:47

    Je suis la Faim!!! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  28. Alli Templeton's avatar Alli Templeton says:
    August 31, 2019 at 10:28

    Fantastic poem, Sue! We’ve got two cats just like that.
    How could anyone refuse that gorgeous face? She’s such a cute little star… I hope she enjoyed her three-course meal. 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  29. roseenglishukauthor's avatar roseenglishukauthor says:
    August 31, 2019 at 20:57

    Reblogged this on Rose English UK and commented:
    #DogLovers check out this wonderful poem by Sue Vincent we love it 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  30. dgkaye's avatar dgkaye says:
    September 1, 2019 at 01:46

    You know her every thought, so amazing. Beautiful Sue and Ani ❤ xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  31. Denis1950's avatar Denis1950 says:
    September 1, 2019 at 06:14

    Poor Ani, the struggle a dog has to endure just to get the bare minimum of attention and food. Life isn’t meant to be easy when you are a working dog. And a beautiful poem Sue.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  32. Jennie's avatar Jennie says:
    September 4, 2019 at 12:38

    Awww… love that Ani!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  33. Lyn Horner's avatar Lyn Horner says:
    September 4, 2019 at 21:35

    I can see why you can’t resist her pleading looks. She is precious!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  34. Darlene's avatar Darlene says:
    September 14, 2019 at 22:07

    Where do they learn how to be so convincing? Dot is exactly the same. Love the poem. It is perfect!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  35. meenawalia1911's avatar meenawalia says:
    September 21, 2019 at 10:50

    Such a cute poem

    Like

    Reply
  36. pawsitivelykimmy's avatar pawsitivelykimmy says:
    September 28, 2019 at 05:14

    So accurate for doggy life! 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  37. bluevortex101's avatar bluevortex101 says:
    September 29, 2019 at 20:26

    I love this! That is how my dog acts anytime I have food!

    Like

    Reply
  38. Lisa Coleman's avatar Lisa Coleman says:
    October 12, 2019 at 15:44

    Cute doggie! This suits my Heaven to a tee! She was the runt of the litter, a Bichon Frise & she eats at 8-8:30 in the morning. Goes all day, but between 5-10pm, its constant….”Feed Me, I’m going to dry up & blow away.” So true & awesome poem!

    Like

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  39. Terri Webster Schrandt's avatar Terri Webster Schrandt says:
    October 23, 2019 at 18:26

    Sue, this post was reblogged as was one of my photo challenges, for which he did not submit anything. I believe he is just filling his pages https://tate917672836.wordpress.com/2019/10/08/welcome-to-my-blog/ I’ve asked WP to look into his account.

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