The Small Dog and the rain…

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Sue Vincent

It fell unexpectedly on me and her
I’d almost forgot feeling rain in my fur,
I haven’t been rained on for so long you see,
I don’t think she liked it though, ‘tween you and me…

We’d had a quick walk before dawn, as we do,
It wasn’t as summery as hitherto,
But still rather pleasant out there in the fields
Where I sniff the morning to see what it yields.

Although it was Sunday, we still had to work,
“No rest for the wicked,” says she, ” We can’t shirk…”
So she goes to her job, while I guard the house,
Protecting the place against postman and mouse.

But, when she gets back and I do my ‘James Bond’,
I detect that she’s doused herself in ‘eau de pond‘,
She doesn’t look happy. “Oh writer, a walk?
And when you’ve stopped growling, perhaps we can talk…”

She got out the leash, and we went on our way,
For once it was rather a dull, cloudy day.
She looked a bit chilly in thin summer clothes
But I paid it no heed as I followed my nose.

She had neither coat, nor a cloak, nor a cap on
When miles from our home the sky-god turned the tap on…
I bounded through grass that was heavy with rain
But she said,”Come on, girl, let’s get home again.”

I loitered as much as I could, it is true,
But when she was shivering and turning blue
I took pity on her and headed for home,
‘Cos, honest, she looked like a wizened old gnome…

“I’m aching and dripping, I’m cold and I’m soaked,”
“You smell really good though,” I said and she choked.
“I’m smelling of pond-water, wet dog and mud,
You’ve got awful taste if you think that smells good!”

I did, but observing her tone and her expression,
I thought I should exercise canine discretion
And bounded ahead on the last homeward stretch…
Perhaps I could cheer her up by playing fetch?

She dried me, and cleaned up the drips so that I
Could sit out on the doorstep and watch the clouds fly.
Around her, her skirts left a lake at her feet,
“Oh Wet Dog,” she said,”you’re not smelling too sweet…”

That normally means that I’m due for a bath
And considering how wet we were, that’s a laugh.
But, just in case, I thought I’d better cower
When I heard her turn on that horrible shower.

But no, I was safe, it was her she was dousing
With all the efficiency of a delousing.
She scrubbed with the lemony, flowery stuff
Till… at least for her taste… she felt fragrant enough.

I don’t understand it, and I know I oughta
But given the groaning, she cannot like water,
She’d already soaked in the pond and the rain…
And come home all dripping…  to get wet again?

I don’t understand her obsession with ‘clean’
I hid in the corner, in case she felt mean…
“I’m not sure I’m liking this ‘eau de wet dog’…”
“If you want to bath something… go catch a frog!”

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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79 Responses to The Small Dog and the rain…

  2. Ritu says:
    September 22, 2019 at 21:06

    Aw bless you Ani 🥰

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. joylennick says:
    September 22, 2019 at 21:18

    I loved that, Sue. Delightful. xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. pensitivity101 says:
    September 22, 2019 at 21:28

    Sweet, sweet Ani. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. bobcabkings says:
    September 22, 2019 at 21:51

    It’s true, Ani, we two-legs have such finicky noses compared to dogs. As for the shower soaking after the pond and rain soakings, the answer is that the shower is warm and the rain is cold on our fur-less skins.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. acflory says:
    September 22, 2019 at 23:47

    LAUGH-OUT-LOUD funny!
    -waves to Ani and Sue-
    Thanks for making my morning so much fun. Oh and commiserations, Sue. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Mary Smith says:
    September 23, 2019 at 00:05

    Oh, Ani, I feel for your confusion over your two-legs’ behaviour – but equally, I know just how good that hot, lemony fragranced shower must have felt.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Eliza Waters says:
    September 23, 2019 at 01:44

    Only a matter of time before you are next, Ani. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. TamrahJo says:
    September 23, 2019 at 04:27

    Awww. Ani girl – My motto? “No rest for the wicked and the righteous don’t need it” – alas, where righteous and wicked rather is an ever changing landscape between moments and perspectives of various living things that live together, who love, but don’t always fully, understand – 🙂 BUT, she got a walk, recovered from dreary/smell, you got a walk, and rested while smell goody stuff took place else where – and…ya know what MY human does? she mixes up GOOD for HER and her NEEDS essential oil mixtures – and then calls me over to ‘take a whiff’ of concentrated mix, one drop, on her finger – IT’s her way of testing whether okay to dilute into air/carpet freshener use or if THaT mix is ‘bad for me’ – She tells folks, “If SHE walks away and glares at me – not right for our shared home” – but really? Why on earth can’t she carve out time to fully learn and not ‘test’ on me/my nose?!? She’s getting better at it – but I swear – early days in that journey of hers? I swear to goodness, I prayed for mixtures to help my joints, just so I could leap the fence and run away from home, sometimes, in order to show her what’s what – – 🙂

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  11. Sadje says:
    September 23, 2019 at 04:38

    The dog had a good time and soaking.

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  12. jenanita01 says:
    September 23, 2019 at 09:36

    Walking in the rain when you are already cold and wet, isn’t much fun, Ani… You’re lucky though, your fur is kinda waterproof…

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  13. OIKOS™-Publishing says:
    September 23, 2019 at 10:28

    A wonderful read, Ani! Look Sue is caring for you, every time. Isnt it great! Best wishes, Michael

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  14. Alli Templeton says:
    September 23, 2019 at 17:30

    I love your poems about your adventures with Ani, Sue. I could almost hear this one being sung to a tune. I was with you both in the rain, and smelling that ‘eau de wet’ dog! Hope the pond is ok. 🙂

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  15. Widdershins says:
    September 24, 2019 at 00:44

    Phew! That was a close one, Ani … well dodged. 😀

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  16. dgkaye says:
    September 24, 2019 at 00:48

    Poor Ani, confused by wet smells and cleanliness. Seems her biggest fear is the shower, lol 🙂 xx

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  17. Jane Sturgeon says:
    September 24, 2019 at 14:43

    I love this, Sue. ❤

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  18. Adele Marie says:
    September 24, 2019 at 17:57

    I’m glad you escaped the dreaded torture bath, again. I did as well, though I had to get the wet cloth to my face, ugh, please it’s so demeaning. Much paw love, Dante Dawg. xxx

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  19. Jennie says:
    September 25, 2019 at 13:41

    Love you, Ani. 😀

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  20. Denis1950 says:
    September 26, 2019 at 08:40

    Beautiful poem Sue, wonderfully shared by Ani with her insightful additions. The only smell that beats wet dog for ripeness is wet dog after rolling in dead fish.

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