Puppy Love

Squishy Face

We just returned from a blissful week at a cabin in the woods. It was wonderful to have time with just us and the dogs to relax and snuggle. We planned to hike, but it ended up being far, far too cold, which ended up being great because we nestled by the fire and played with lots of new dog toys. Pictures and details to come.

Having been away from home for a week – with no internet connection!!! – I have a lot of catching up to do. First, though, I wanted to share the most delightful poem. We attended a wedding celebration last weekend, and this poem was read by the bride and groom who just got their first puppy. I always get a little gushy over newlyweds’ glowing, smiling faces, but this poem especially brought tears to my eyes. Enjoy!

Falling in love is like owning a dog
an epithalamion by Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com

First of all, it’s a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you’re walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain’t no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?

On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.

Love doesn’t like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don’t you ever do that again!

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you’re all wound up and can’t move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

(BTW – If you liked this poem as much as I did, please check out the poet’s site, www.taylormali.com. There are a ton of great resources and other work on there. In particular, The the impotence of proofreading is hilarious and so heartwarming for a grammar nerd like me!)