Priorities

[Maureen K Clifford]

Priorities


The dogs aren’t allowed in the house - that was rule number one -
thought it a little strange and to me seemed not much fun.
The dogs must not sit on the couch they must sit on the floor.
Again to me a little strange – for what is a couch for?

No dogs are sleeping on the bed – it’s not a place they go.
No dogs are sleeping in the bed – oh really – do they know?
I started now to wonder if he was right in the head
but thought I’d keep my mouth shut and see what panned out instead.

The dogs are not fed titbits from the table as we eat.
No argument with that – for they both wait at my feet,
quiet and docile, barely moving, but with both ears sharply cocked -
as eyes peruse each inch of floor in case something is dropped.

The dogs will not lick faces or sit and scratch for fleas.
This bloke was getting up my nose –I thought ‘he’s not for me’
to many won’ts for my liking – and not much give and take
it seems that when I fancied him I made a big mistake.

So he got his marching orders and they went something like this -
My dogs’ home is at my house and they live there in pure bliss.
The couch is meant for sitting on, I use it not at all
but for a good few years now it has held my dogs in thrall.

My bed is still a double bed – there’s room for more than one,
and on the cold nights that we have it’s not a lot of fun
when you’re feet are really freezing and there’s frost out everywhere -
but my dogs my feet are warming, in my bed – which us three share.

My dogs are not fed titbits from the table as we eat.
We share a meal together - without them I’m incomplete,
and as for licking faces – Mate you’re just too hard to please
for these are precious doggy kisses- by the way they don’t have fleas.

So it seems perhaps together we will never ever be.
Seems you failed to read the notice at the door upon entry.
The sign’s there for a purpose – it is not there just on whim.
It’s the Mission Statement of this place – for those who enter in.

‘This house is run for comfort and convenience’ it reads
‘of the animals within it - both of whom have special needs,
and if you have a problem with that’ it further states
‘then perhaps you shouldn’t be here’. Guess that says it all old Mate .

So we went our separate ways and the relief was palpable
for we never would have made it – oh why was I such a fool?
To even think for just a minute that someone could give to me
better love and understanding than my Molly and Elly.

Animals know those who love them – they do not prioritize
they give their love unstinting – you can see it in their eyes.

Maureen Clifford © 10/11

[Heather]

Animals know those who love them – they do not prioritize
they give their love unstinting – you can see it in their eyes.

Indeed they do Maureen and they don't nag, complain, whine or ask for money!

My little fella (Buddy - a Jack Russell 18mths old) will come and sit between my feet at the computer and talk to me or bring a toy to play with. He is so funny and he looks at me with those eyes... Puppy love, there ain't nothin like it.

Heather

[Zondrae]

G;day Maureen,

Firstly; goodonya for using an unusual word. 'Thrall'. While I am familiar with 'enthrall', I was unaware that thrall was a word in it's own right. I looked it up in my Macquarie, which lives on my computer desk.
thrall- "one who is in bondage". Now I wonder, what goes on at your place? (hee hee)

[Maureen K Clifford]

Zondrae if you ever come sit on my couch you will grasp my intent immediately It will totally enslave you.

Thrall was the term for a slave in Scandinavian culture during the Viking Age. They were the lowest in the social order ( I am the boss dog here - the Alpha Bitch) and usually provided unskilled labor (well the girls are not much good at technical things like computers and vacumming etc etc. Totally unskilled - but they are great manual labourers - good at hole digging, pulling out plants, spreading manure, great at keeping felons and other undesirables at bay and keeping birds and possums off the veggies and roses) so I figured with the use of just a smidge of poetic licence the word worked

Cheers

Maureen

[Heather]

Yay, Maureen has a face! And a nice one too! No hats to hide her eyes!

Heather

[Maureen K Clifford]

Oooh Heather you say the nicest things Mind you the bags and wrinkles are on show as well.

Thanks for your help with the pixies

My Elly is a Jack Russell/Staffy and she does exactly the same as your Buddy - only with her it is a ball - and it has to be a green tennis ball - she completely ignores anything else.

Play with Elly 24/7 and that's one small dog thinks she's in heaven.

Cheers

Maureen