Bonny is the fifth puppy I’ve raised and the first chewer – read: destroyer of bathmats, stuffies, tissues, and socks – so far. Her beauty and sweet demeanor have saved her life more than once in the seventh months since she joined our family.
But she rescued me from a broken heart left by her predecessor. So as we near year’s end, when tallying the joys and disappointments, she most definitely tips the scales in favor of joy.
Bonny, 8 months old – looking quite pleased with herself after her “Big Reveal.”
DON’T GO, ©draft, 2022 Patricia J. Franz
DON’T GO!
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If I plop my furry bod
on a spot upon your bed,
will you stop and plop down next to me
and knuckle-rub my big black head?
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If I stretch my furry bod
and roll on to my back
and beg you for a belly rub,
will you join me for a nap?
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If I follow you from room to room,
a chew toy in my jaw,
adore you with my big brown eyes,
and tap you with my furry paw
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will you let me lug you from that ever-present mug?
I’ll wag my big, black, white-tipped tail.
I’ll let you win at tug.
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Join all of us on Michelle Kogan‘s blog for this week’s Poetry Roundup!
Patricia Franz is a kidlit writer and published poet. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Well, Bonny is a lucky girl, to have joined your clan. Bernese Mountain Dog? She looks beautiful. [If mischievous!] ;0) Thanks for sharing the fun. Here’s to, um, simpler tastes for her as she gets older… but I might not count on it.
one can hope, right?
Love your Bonnie! We were lucky with our rescue Bernese mix – he’s not a chewer, beggar, or barker. I used to say that my daughter’s black lab who lived with us for awhile was a reader – I have several books with chewed corners.
crossing fingers this may be outgrown!
Patricia, the title sets the tone for a fun post and set of poems. Bonnie is a beauty and I am sure she offers you much happiness. Enjoy the baby and Bonnie at this holiday time.
Thank you, Carol. And I hope the elves find you!
Patricia, your affection and love shines in this poem and both poems! I got the gist, but I’m wondering what a silky is? Thanks for sparing us “the big reveal.” Hahahaha. Love all the sounds in that second poem, especially.
Hmm…good point. “Silky” is a miniature baby blanket, typically with some kind of satin or slick soft texture that sometimes is sewn together with a pacifier. Babies love to hold their silkies close to their faces. These particular ones didn’t have pacifiers; they had little stuffed animal heads sewn on them. You would think they’d be too big to swallow!
Bonny sounds like quite a handful, but I can see why she’s totally stolen your heart. She’s a wonderful poet, too. 😀
I will let her know, Jama, that you liked her poetic efforts!
It’s just such fun to have a darling new puppy, until one remembers, oh, yes, they chew! I love the pic of Bonnie, assume she is a Bernie. I have 2 Bernese Mt. Granddogs & they have made it through that stage, Patricia, now so, so sweet. I love your capture of those early stages and especially the voice that comes through so clearly. Bonnie ‘caught’, Bonnie ‘begging’. & so funny how we adults ignore the signs: “”It’s probly in the laundry.”
OMG- TWO??? I’ve had only one at a time. Bonny is my second Berner – and NOTHING like our first (who was angel-halo perfect). It’s always the devilish ones that steal your heart, isn’t it!
Sounds like Bonnie has camouflaged all her early puppy antics with her love for you, and you share this so well in both of your poems, thanks for all Patricia!
Thanks, Michelle!
Love these poems! We are dog-sitting for our neighbors and I’ve been getting so many doggie snuggles.
They are the BEST!
Bonny is a beautiful dog! Our dog, mostly Lab with no idea how to retrieve or swim, was a big chewer but grew out of it eventually.
fingers crossed!
Thanks for reminding me why I don’t want to raise another puppy!
yes — doggie birth control!
Oh fun/funny/dear/no. (All those ‘ohs’ and more, I’m sure, on reading this.) I’m with Mary Lee. Puppies are cute – from a distance. (We’re long-term babysitting my son’s dog – and there has been some chewing going on here, too. And she’d not a puppy. Though she was rescued from a puppy farm – poor thing – so had no life before my son got her. Maybe she’s got to get the ‘puppy’ out of her system, at last. BUT – your poems are great, as is your sense of humour.
I love your frank honesty, Kat! And you are very kind to watch your son’s dog – as a non-dog person 😉
Ha, how many dogs have wriggled out of consequences thanks to their beauty and sweet demeanor?! 😀 Love this, Patricia. Your poems bring back sweet memories of our dear old girl (who was with us for almost fourteen years.) Thanks for sharing the joys and frustrations, lol!
Sigh, yes — it’s incredible what sweet children and dogs get away with! Thank you, Karen!
Oh, Patricia. What a sweet fluffball! I can see why she gets away with puppy-mischief.
And the demon puppy appeared again this week – taking down a baby hat and mittens!