We used to have a pretty lawn
Its grass was always green
The envy of the neighborhood
And something to be seen
A fire pit for our movie nights
Gazebo for the sun
Open space for playing games
Swimming pool for fun
But then we brought a puppy home
And thought it would be good
To fill the space inside our hearts
As only puppies could
But what the shelters fail to say
About your new addition
Is puppies have their own opinions
When it comes to submission
Pooping on your entry rug
And peeing in your boot
Nipping with their needle teeth
And thinking that they're cute
And then they grow, they don't stay small
But still inside their brain
They think they're still adorable
And everything's a game
Let's eat those flowers
Dig those holes
And gnaw on wheelbarrow tires
Let's make sure nothing's watered
By chewing sprinkler wires
And training time's a daily fight
We tell them sit and stay
Instead of doing what they're told
They promptly run away
But at day's end when sun is gone
My sadness on the rise
My puppy wanders up to me
And looks into my eyes
And then as tender as can be
It gently licks my hand
Then cuddles close up next to me
And drifts to slumber land
I look upon that ball of fluff
Release anger and sorrow
Well, maybe the puppy's not so bad
...We'll try again tomorrow
Steve Chavez