VILLANELLE FOR A DOG UNCUT

 When my old dog comes back home to me, his tail a wagging
And his eyes, like molten honey, gaze directly into mine
He knows that I’ll forgive him and there’ll be no nagging.

And though I have no money and the rent is lagging,
He knows his supper will be on the plate each night at nine
When my old dog comes back home to me, his tail a wagging.

And when he’s out I guess that likely he’ll be bragging
How no bitch on heat round here will ever have to pine.
He knows that I’ll forgive him and there’ll be no nagging.

So, though gossips have a field day and my pride is sagging
And the shame may send my ego into terminal decline,
When my old dog comes back home to me, his tail a wagging

It doesn’t seem to matter how my heart’s been dragging,
Just his being here makes everything seem absolutely fine.
He knows that I’ll forgive him and there’ll be no nagging.

But now he’s getting older his libido’s flagging
And his other loves have found some other ways to pass the time
When my old dog comes back home to me, his tail a wagging
He knows that I’ll forgive him and there’ll be no nagging

© Susan M Phillips 2008

(TOLT ex 14 p229)