It’s been nearly eight months in the desert and my heart yearns for home. Besides missing our 6 cats in Florida, I sure miss our two dogs, Napoleon and Mele, two Min-Pins or Miniature Pinschers, the mighty mights of Oviedo, Florida. To describe who they are and what they are like is simple. For now, just picture in your mind a short description then you can create your own image--- yes, they are tiny, delicate, and perhaps fragile and you could call them a distant cousin of the much-larger Doberman Pinscher. While they are pocket-sized dogs with a graceful means of walking, they are spunky with a keen sense of humor, a bouncy personality that brightens days and sometimes causes anxiety for us owners. In their blood is a bred to keep farm kitchens free of mice and rats, so these little ones can be ferocious when necessary and impulsively protective. So I dedicate this poetic piece to my two friends, growing older every year but always young at heart.

Morning fresh
Evening calm
A treat for my soul and my feet
Sent by God for a purpose
Four legged creatures with paws---
For today I get walked by Napoleon and Mele
Napoleon, named for the majestic and aloof one,
And Mele, “Merry or Happy”, older now, a present to ourselves named after a Hawaiian storm
Two opposites that attract

They say there are similarities between our actions
and animals, phrases like
“Snake in the Grass” for a devious person
“Old Bear” for a grouchy man
“Chicken” for a coward,
“Hog” for a glutton,
“Strong as an Ox” for a muscled man,
“Dog tired” after a day at the office,
Just to name a few—

But our daily walk is therapy,
between a healing and a chore
As thoughts and discussions gather
For Mele, a sorta Dr. Shrink to store,
But Napoleon prefers to scatter,
bark, bark, bark!!!
for lizards, toads, animals are fair game
as well the road, sidewalks, and trees
are their porta-john toilets.
Whew! help me with the stink breeze...

These mighty two are important to the family,
close friends in the open air and the
warmth shared from their friendship

They are dependable for sure but still depend on us,
Yes, I gather them for the walk and leash,
sometimes end up carrying them,
But they are not like sheep,
who are exceptionally unintelligent.

When the time comes, and oh too quickly
they too must pass
the lesson I learn from being walked
is how to live in the present time
I’d lie
if I didn’t enjoy God’s creation
through Napoleon and Mele.

The road ahead, though familiar, is THEIR path,
everything is within sight,
Isn’t this like life?
a journey filled with happiness and plight...

Updated Note:
Today I learned of a 5 lb dog in Texas that jumped in and stood in the way of a rattler and 1 year old baby. The little dog took the poisonous bites, saved the baby, and got to live to be one of man's best friends. Now, isn't that something?

Copyright © 2007 by Myles Saulibio. All Rights Reserved

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now....
Ready for a treat?
For dog lovers of all ages," Tales Of The Little Dogs" is comprised of three stories

- The Little Dog Who Ran Away With The Circus

- The Little Dog Who Lost her Bark

- The Little Dog Who Went To The Farm

Writer/Narrator Jack Brown has a special attraction for dogs of all sizes. Perhaps it is his talent for empathy or penchant for sublime nonsense, but dogs are uniquely drawn to him. "Tales of the Little Dogs" is his effort to tell the stories of little dogs he has known and imagined - which apparently is the way dogs like it.

Jack is a former songwriter for the celebrated U.S.A. children's television show Capt.Kangaroo. His CD "A Dog is a Dog" is recommended by the American Library Association, School Library Journal and Publisher's Weekly.

For those inclined to research, the excellent U.K. magazine "Dogs Today" ran a feature on Brown in the May 2004 issue. Jack would like to thank Jim Dale for his inspirational example of gifted narration -and turning a New York Barnes & Noble bookstore into a complete zoo with his appearance at the debut of a Harry Potter novel.

So, “run” over the Audiobook Circle link below and listen to a free sample of “Tales of the Little Dogs” by Jack Brown.