The Dream Of A Springer Spaniel Poem by Paul Hartal

The Turtle loved animals.
He wrote his doctoral thesis
on a comparative analysis
of tortoise and canine brains.

And, mind you,
he took good care of
his Springer Spaniel, Sophie.
He explained to all those who asked
that the dog descended from
the Norfolk.

He followed
with keen scientific interest
the behavior of Sophie.

Once as he observed
the sleeping Springer Spaniel
he noticed that at some point
her breathing became irregular.

A few seconds later
Sophie started swinging
and twitching her legs.
She was also whining
and whimpering and snarling
and then let out an excited woof.

‘Oh, she is dreaming', said the Turtle,
as he watched with satisfaction
the dog's rolling eyes under her lids.
‘Here come the Rapid Eye Movements
of a Spaniel's dream episode.'

‘And although I cannot prove this,
I am quite sure, my dear Sophie,
that in your dream you had flushed
an imaginary flock of sparrows.'