Poetry Friday: A Dog Can Be

This is a post about dogs.You've all gotten to know the Shovan family dogs over the years -- anxious Sam the schnauzer and his very best friend, Rudy the (goofy, lovable) beagle.

But it's also a post about poetry.

I am a huge fan of Laura Purdie Salas' A Leaf Can Be series of nature poetry books. Today, I am going to shamelessly borrow from Laura, with sincere apologies!After Rudy passed away in December, we adopted a new beagle for Sam, six-year-old Arthur. Arthur is an even-tempered, sweet boy. He and Sam make a good pair. After grieving for Rudy, 14-year-old Sam has been enjoying a happy summer with his new sibling.But Sam's age is showing.He's starting to have more bad days than good, eating less, stretching out in the secret garden's sunny lawn more.Tonight, he was outside and too weak to walk back in. Although Sam is decidedly NOT a lapdog (thank you very much), he let me carry him inside.So today, I wrote an ode to Sam -- to all dogs, really -- in the style of A Leaf Can Be.  A Dog Can BeBy Laura Shovan (after Laura Purdie Salas)A dog is a dog,be she pug, poodle, westie.Whether schnauzer or shepherd,he’s your fun, furry bestie.A dog can be a…fetch playerdown-layermud collectordoor protectorrabbit chasertears erasersock stealerheart healer.A dog is a dog,be he senior or pup.Now go find your doggieand snuggle her up!Wow... I am already imagining writing "School Can Be" or "Friends Can Be" or "A Bee Can Be" as a class poem with students!Please send good wishes to our sweet Sammy, Poetry Friday friends.