To be a dog —

To gambol and to sometimes
lollop through the meadow,
head, a yo-yo, beech-green eyes.

To be a dog — to be a German
Shepherd dog sniffing einfach, einfach,
in between botanic explorations.

Or a Vizsla — chieftain of the hunting
arts, Hungarian and fed on chops, or
oh to be a spaniel, simply that and

snuffle pungent mushrooms and
listen in on lachrymose and ancient
earthworms, keening at winter’s end.

To be wise to it and thump the ground
and bark three times for spring!