DISGRUNTLED

              Gyp grumbles when she wants to be let out,
              Lying with her nose by the back door,
              And if I’m slow to answer, she’ll soon shout,
              A call no one could easily ignore.

              Is it that we have dogs or they have us?
              “Dog owner” is ambiguous at best:
              From their viewpoint, we’re theirs to kiss or cuss
              While we feel sometimes cursed and sometimes blessed.

              And yet, for all of that, we’re bonded well
              Being most times the best of company,
              Content to share this house in which we dwell,
              Having developed mutual empathy.

                 Those times when we’re contentious, prone to shout,
                  Our best recourse is—leash up and walk out.

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