Dog Walk Poem by C. Muralidara Kannan

He wakes me up every dawn
With a shril bark of a 'bav'
Or with a gentle caress of his paw
I rise swiping my eyes with a yawn.

Getting ready in a jiffy, I walk him out
Holding the end of the strong rope
The other end hooked to his collar
He struts like the king of the jungle

A glance of a bird or blade of grass
Is just enough, he pounces draging me
To his target...shoos away the bird
Or chews away the green grass.

Then he tugs forward pulling me hard
I take a stance of water skating
This game continues for a while
Until he raises his hind leg on a pole.

Resumes his agile stride
Sniffing this and that with pride
What a field survey!
Suddenly, he turns and swirls around
Turning his body a merry-go-round
And there! ...The task is done.

Many a morning
He takes his own time to squat
Half an hour or more.
He had his own philosophy
In such maters!

Once the squating business ends,
He looks around gloating.
Then looks at me.
The hint is: return home.
A passive purposeful retreat.

At home...really at home
Devours the food and slups in water.
Rolls himself into a flat ball
Closes his eyes...That's all.
What a blessed soul to have
A morning slumber!

Now, I have to rush through..
Break my fast
And take to my heals...
Kick start my scooter
Head towards my office
To kick start my routine.