We walk quietly through
the shadowed woods listening to
the muffled sounds of life
rustling in furtive places
my girl looks up at me
familiar expression
on her rough, excited face
confident round eyes
search the massive undergrowth
with unwavering purpose
dark snout moistened with iron red dirt
reaching into the air
her body taught, tail fiercely up
she stands in perfect form
at the slightest snapping of a twig
she cocks her head, triangle scruff ears
honing in
a deer just behind the tree, darts away to safety
while she wraps herself around a sapling
lost in frantic barking
The boy is already in pursuit, his off leash status
allowing him to plunge ahead
I call, but
he has already stopped
the thick tangle of thorny green more than
he’s willing to test
they are different,
the terriors,
he distant and defensive
where she takes the offensive in vocal alert.
She would give chase
until hopelessly lost
he is easily halted by the smallest barrier
Suddenly a man, quietly taking pictures
enjoying an early August morning
I stop
to avoid disturbing his careful composition.
the girl growls
I say “no”
the boy lunges with an unsure warning
The man kneels, reaching out to welcome them
it takes less than a second
small furious defenders,
remorseless hunters,
run to him as if familiar
circling and waggling into the arms of this stranger
for the human affection offered.
