CIRCLING THE DOG PARK « April Halprin Wayland – Children's Book Author & Poet

CIRCLING THE DOG PARK
by April Halprin Wayland

“Circle,” James says.
So we walk the perimeter.
“You’re their Alpha Dog—they need to know where you are.

They have to look up, find you,
every few minutes.
It keeps ‘em out of trouble.”

So we walk laps along the border of the dog park;
and sure enough, Lacey and Eli check on us,
just as he said they would.

Eli licks my hand and runs off,
Lacey barks happily,
chasing Eli back down to the last bench.

I suppose it’s like God,
circling the perimeter
of my life.

I have to look up, to find God,
religiously.
It keeps me out of trouble.

Poetry Prompt:

The dog park is a wonderful metaphor for life. A metaphor compares two unlike things without using the words “like” or “as”. For example, her smile isn’t like the sun (that’s a simile). Her smile is the sun. Dog park = life. Dog owner = dog’s God.

It’s your turn. Look for a metaphor in your life. Write a poem. Write with joy.