The small dog and the gardener…

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Sue Vincent

The grass had grown, was far too long,
My mower wouldn’t cope.
What if I trimmed it down a bit?
That might work. I could hope.

I got the trimmer all set up,
The dog would not go in,
Just stood there with a lolling tongue
And all-too-knowing grin.

“As if,” she seemed to say to me,
“You’ll manage on your own.
You need to buy a herd of goats…
You seen how long it’s grown?”

She had a point, ‘cause what with work,
And frost and rain and dew,
I couldn’t cut it when I should
And it just grew and grew.

And I’d already cleaned the pond,
The car and washed the floor,
But that was someone else’s house…
So, home to tackle more.

I fired up and got to work,
The trimmer slicing grass,
There’s green stuff flying everywhere
With every sweep and pass.

I’ve got the knack, it’s working well
And looking neatly mown…
But after just a yard or two
My muscles start to groan.

The dog looks on, all smug now,
And she says, “I told you so.”
But now I’ve got a tonsured lawn…
The rest will have to go.

The trimmer is vibrating
And with every pass I make
My wrists are swelling nicely
And my back is one big ache.

I persevered and got it done
And stood back to admire.
I couldn’t lift a whisker now,
My hands are pretty dire.

By this time I can’t hold a cup,
I’m needing rehydrating,
And though I’ve switched the damned thing off
My bones are still vibrating.

The small dog saunters over,
Looks me right between the eyes,
“What do you think you’re playing at?”
It’s really no surprise…

“You’re getting old,” the small dog says,
“One day you’re going to heed me.”
She pee’d upon my lovely lawn.
“Now come on in and feed me.”

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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78 Responses to The small dog and the gardener…

  1. barbtaub says:
    April 16, 2020 at 06:36

    I kept hearing that the elderly were more at risk for coronavirus, but it was such a shock the day I realized: that’s me!

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply
  2. willowdot21 says:
    April 16, 2020 at 06:37

    You’ll get no sympathy from the small dog. But you will get lots from me 💜.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. OIKOS™-Publishing says:
    April 16, 2020 at 06:50

    The last picture is so questionable Lol

    Like

    Reply
  4. Ritu says:
    April 16, 2020 at 07:16

    Oh, Sue, in feeling your aches and pains!

    Like

    Reply
  5. Darlene says:
    April 16, 2020 at 08:42

    Trust Ani to tell it like it is! I hope you got some rest. xo

    Like

    Reply
  6. beth says:
    April 16, 2020 at 10:55

    so funny, no mercy from ani!

    Like

    Reply
  7. Dale says:
    April 16, 2020 at 12:23

    No rest for the wicked
    No pity from the wretched!

    Like

    Reply
  8. Sadje says:
    April 16, 2020 at 13:19

    You should have listened to Ani! Stay safe Sue.

    Like

    Reply
  9. pensitivity101 says:
    April 16, 2020 at 13:25

    This is brilliant Sue…… and Maggie would have passed on her approval too!!

    Like

    Reply
  10. Victoria Zigler (@VictoriaZigler) says:
    April 16, 2020 at 13:37

    I have to wonder… How long did she let you rest before she brought you her ball to throw? I’m guessing not long. Anyway, I hope the sight of your nicely mowed lawn was worth it.

    Like

    Reply
  11. robertawrites235681907 says:
    April 16, 2020 at 18:11

    This is such a fun poem, Sue, but I hope you are recovered now. My mom also does things she shouldn’t do and gets aches and pains and sometimes worse.

    Like

    Reply
  12. Daniel Kemp says:
    April 16, 2020 at 19:02

    Brilliant–love it 😛 😛 😛

    Like

    Reply
  13. Patty says:
    April 16, 2020 at 20:13

    Reblogged this on Campbells World.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Bette A. Stevens says:
    April 16, 2020 at 21:31

    Wonderful! Dog’s know best… 🙂 xo

    Like

    Reply
  15. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    April 16, 2020 at 22:07

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
    These days it is always a good idea to go to bed with lovely words and images on your mind… to switch off the constant barrage of news and headlines and instead seek out the wisdom of a dog… specifically the very wise Ani who curates the activities of Sue Vincent…head over and be entertained and have your day brightened. thanks Sally

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. dgkaye says:
    April 16, 2020 at 22:35

    Thank goodness for sweet Ani. I hear ya Sue. There are days. Just stay safe. ❤

    Like

    Reply
  17. Liz Gauffreau says:
    April 16, 2020 at 22:44

    Of course, the last stanza is my favorite!

    Like

    Reply
  18. Eliza Waters says:
    April 17, 2020 at 02:49

    Ha, she has you pegged! 😉

    Like

    Reply
  19. petespringerauthor says:
    April 17, 2020 at 02:51

    There’s nothing quite like that feeling when you’ve turned the darn thing off, and your hands are still vibrating like they’re still at work.😎

    Like

    Reply
  20. Darcy says:
    April 17, 2020 at 04:55

    ‘Tis the season… for our lawn to grow so fast it’s laughing at us watching it grow. My sympathies. This is exactly why my chiropractor shakes his head when I walk in to his office. He doesn’t even have to ask what I did *this* time….

    Like

    Reply
  21. Widdershins says:
    April 17, 2020 at 05:15

    Oh yes, I’m dreading the post-lawnmowing aches and pains that are scheduled to happen within the next few days … nice to see the small dog has her priorities straight though! 😀

    Like

    Reply
  22. D. Wallace Peach says:
    April 17, 2020 at 15:15

    Oh dear. Time to hire a neighborhood teenager. My husband and I talk about this a lot. And Barb’s meme cracked me up. That’s me. Lol.

    Like

    Reply
  23. H.R.R. Gorman says:
    April 17, 2020 at 21:09

    Our yard has a lamp post and a stop sign in it. You can clearly tell dogs are fond of them by the grass quality nearby.

    Like

    Reply
  24. Jim Borden says:
    April 18, 2020 at 21:46

    wonderful post, and one smart dog…

    Like

    Reply
  25. Jennie says:
    April 18, 2020 at 22:50

    I’m only turning 70 next month…

    Like

    Reply
  26. noelleg44 says:
    April 22, 2020 at 18:10

    Ani is so insightful! She’s probably wondering what cutting the grass will do for HER!
    Hugs and aspirin!.

    Like

    Reply
  27. Flatliner Books says:
    May 22, 2020 at 00:36

    We love your humor and are going to feature you in our next release “This Just In… Secret Pets.”

    Like

    Reply

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