Portrait of the Author with a Dog, Not Her Own by Pat Hale

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Portrait of the Author with a Dog, Not Her Own
by
Pat Hale

A golden retriever has been hired

to pose with the author for the photograph

on her book jacket. The author rests one hand

on the head of the dog leaning against her leg;

the dog seems to be lifting his head

into this touch, lending the author his warmth

and easy charm, making the author seem like

someone you would want to drink coffee with

on a porch some morning as the sun was rising;

makes her book seem like one you might

not be able to put down some Autumn night

when what you really need is sleep.

In truth, the author’s sleeve smells so

enticingly of cat, the dog can barely

restrain himself from leaping.

In truth, the author doesn’t like dogs,

doesn’t like to touch dogs, can’t wait

to wash her hands, to go home, to exchange

the stiff jeans and borrowed leather jacket

for her pink chenille bathrobe

with appliquéd teapots for pockets.

She will curl up on the couch in front of the tv

while a cross-eyed Siamese prowls the house

yowling, marking the door frames.

And the dog – he will curl up on his own couch

the other side of the city, where he can snuffle

Pat Hale is a Connecticut poet with fond memories of her childhood in western Pennsylvania.
She has loved to read and write since she was a little girl. Pat’s award-winning work has appeared in many journals and she facilitates a writing group modeled on the Amherst Writers and Artists method.

Eiken:
Beautiful poem and wonderful picture:)))) Maire
Posted 10/29/2011 01:18 PM

wendy morton:
Reality, I like to say, is always something else. What a delightful poem.
Posted 10/29/2011 12:45 PM

dotief@comcast.net:
I love it! What you see may be quite different than what really is. Great poem!
Posted 10/29/2011 07:57 AM

tannerlynne:
what a great poem! a perfect picture of both the author and the dog.
Posted 10/29/2011 07:17 AM

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