'Til recently, felt envy (shameful, strange)

Just thought THEY were the lucky ones

Big winners in the life on offer now

THEY were so bright-eyed! ever joyous — so beloved

With all of THEIR deep needs richly fulfilled

True loves close by providing endless pleasure

More time to cuddle, more time to roam

More tasty snacks and meals consumed together

Dear ones kept nicely on the spot, right there

One glance, or at the most one door, away.

Pause — Lockdown — Closure . . . all such welcome gifts

From kindly Covid, keeping us at home

Turns out that joys like these come with a price

I notice now the pretty shaggy beasts,

Out prancing with their trusted bosom friends,

Have changed — demeanour of once-docile dogs

So very different now — on these grey days

Instead of heeling smart in two-step style

They surge towards me as I walk quickly by

(Distanced, of course, revered two metre gap

From each new human-canine pair I see)

These dogs beseech me, deep eye contact held

As I step outward, swiftly move aside

They . . . strain their leashes! stop obeying

even balk — and yelp — and sadly whine

It's not like ice-queen I ignore them

In new brisk Covid style I do respond

From safe mid-road while I walk cleanly on

I cry out: "gorgeous!" "handsome!" "sweet!"

Or "conscious virtue, aren't you just so good?"

Companions say "she never does that"

"Just come along now" "shush up, settle down"

"Don't be so silly" or "what's wrong, boy?"

And we keep moving, quickly march along

Our separate opposite-direction routes

Despite the unimportant drag and tug

Of dark-eyed dog's sad cries and backward looks

Seems clear enough — at first, of course

These dogs were thrilled, fulfilled, replete

With longed-for boon companion love

From consecrated human friend

But now they're noting how the World

Snubs, spurns, avoids them — and they can't cope

Because . . . they know they're beautiful!

And there to be caressed, adored

Not just by those inside some bubble

By ALL who see them, cross their paths

They know! They really, really, REALLY KNOW!!

Yet, somehow, that just isn't how it is

And so, bereft, they stop, and stare, and whine

A notion circulated recently

A rumour — that some pets might sometimes spread

The virus if you pet their furry fur

Thus, pet petting an iffy thing to do

The science, somewhat inconclusive,

(As speedy science often is, of course)

Said that — most likely — transfer would not happen

But now, with every single thing unsure

One extra reason for evasive actions

(And dogs confused by dark new dearth of love)

So . . . they send out their sundry compliments —

With whines, and yips, and wildly wagging tails

Whole body wig-wag mode, even, sometimes

From shoulders down one frantic frenzied jig

(Those wriggly rears! so very silly-sad) —

To each cold stranger briskly walking by.

They're sorrow-filled, these well-walked hounds

but lack the nasty throbby forebrain bits

To stay offended, so they just try

And try, and try, until walk's over.

Then..? they forget! Those lucky lucky dogs.