Enjoying breakfast on our comfy front porch, and
taking in the beauty of the early morning freshness;
me with my fresh blueberries and Greek Yogurt and
him with his Heart Healthy Cheerios and dark roasted Java.

We relish the cool morning breeze, and
the rising sun seems to be flirting with us
through the moving branches of the trees.
The perpetual morning parade is in progress.

There is a new trend - you must have a dog
at the end of a leash to cruise the neighborhood.
They come in all shapes and sizes, both
the beloved buddies and their masters.

There are old men and women with pooches so little
their feet are a blur trying to keep up the stride;
young ladies with big dogs so tight at the leash that
he tows her, while tracking the scent of the dog just ahead.

They are cheerful this morning, enjoying their walk,
some smile with "Good Morning" and "Have a nice day."
Others stop for a chat; some glance the other way
as their pooch leaves a deposit on our manicured lawn.

Is it awkward for them as they pause for their break, then
reach down at the finish to claim what was left?
They have something in common - they all love their pets,
and walk along briskly - swinging their little bags of poop.

Arlene Lee is a retired Medical Transcriptionist/Secretary and lives in Eau Claire with her husband, Mike. She has always enjoyed reading poetry, and finds it a relaxing past time.