A Dog Lover's Poem: Throw and Chase

Mark Tulin is a baseball fan from Philadelphia, PA. He has four books of poetry and one short story collection, available on Amazon.

The Bond Between Dog and Owner

Is there a stronger connection between an owner and a pet? That relationship is far less complicated than human relationships and with much less drama. Sure, the owner has responsibilities regarding the care and feeding of a dog, but it all seems worthwhile when there is such a loving interaction, like the moments they share on the beach in a game of fetch.

I wrote Throw and Chase after watching dogs and their owners play in Ventura, California. Two words came to mind in their jovial interactions, pride and respect. It appeared almost as if they were made to be together, enjoying each other's company, respecting each other's personality, and forming a prideful bond that transcends place and time.

Enjoy Throw and Chase, and watch my Youtube video of the same title.

Poem: Throw and Chase

I keep tossing the red ball

into the tumbling waves,

and my dog retrieves

and his paws keep paddling

while it seems that time slows,

and we never seem to tire,

but keep our game going

in an endless succession

Throw and chase is our ritual,

a man-dog brotherhood,

our way of staying connected,

sharing the sun-splattered instant

when the morning feels fresh forever,

and the waves never cease

As the seasons pass,

we eventually grow old,

my dog will develop a bad hip

I will inherit my mother’s cataracts

and my eyes too blurry

to play in the bright sunshine

on the damp sands of the beach

We will become two aging comrades

who prefer the quiet of a living room

I will lean back in my lounger,

my dog curled up by my feet

on a throw rug near a space heater,

while we nostalgically remember

my dog so excited by the chase,

and me, more than happy to throw.

© 2021 Mark Tulin