"Oh, when I lift you up
You feel like a hundred times yourself
I wish everybody knew
What's so great about you..."
There's this man near where I live, I see him sometimes from my window... He's got some sort of disability, he limps, staggers and then accelerates for a step or two, lurching from side to side as he does. His eyes never quite focus... his gaze wondering between idle trees and flickering street lights... He has this large, beautiful dog; a mutt with shaggy grey fur and an energetic undertone to its steps, big enough to pull a regular man off his balance with a single tug on the leash...
Ever since I've moved here I've seen them walking together. I'd catch a glimpse of them while I was having my morning coffee or late night drink and I would stare until they had moved out of sight, wondering if it would be that day, the day the mutt would walk a step too fast, the man would stall a step behind and the leash would stretch out in tension, bringing the poor man tumbling towards the pavement.
Yet I've been waiting for years now... Sinful hope for disaster now turned into heartfelt endearment...and if you could see them, as I do, you'd understand...
The dog never strays from the short leash 's range, his watchful eyes always on his owner, his purpose of not leaving the wavering man's side never faltering... And the leash never strains, swaying ever so gently from side to side as the dog shortens their distance with determined half steps or rapid jumps, compensating for his friend's inconsistent walk. If you'd see it as I do, almost every day, you'd be compelled one day to write about it...and with a few drinks in you, one day you might...
0 comments:
Post a Comment