Waves lap along the shore
Blanketing every granule like a newborn
Clouds gather overhead bouncing off of each other like a pinball machine
The sun blinds me with its truth that summer only lasts three months
And the lie that there is a better time of year
When else can you run across the sidewalk barefoot chasing after your dog
Who just escaped from the yard in the middle of a bath?
You had just bought him expensive lemon-scented shampoo-and conditioner
All of the dogs on the block bark loudly with their jealousy
And Buttons just can’t handle it so he runs away
Buttons passes up Ms. Perry, the 8o year old who is always complaining that he kills the grass lining the chain-linked fence with his urine
Buttons runs past all of the houses with dogs while you run after him
Accidentally smashing Mr. and Mrs. Brown’s flowers
Right before Buttons beelines straight into the busy street
You say in your loudest tone
BUTTONS, NO!
Buttons stops in fear, turns around and you grab him by the collar and you safely lead him back into the yard
You permanently line the place Buttons jumped with some 2x4’s so the incident will never happen again
Give him a belly rub to calm him down
Wait until all of the dogs stop barking
And finish giving him a bath.