Luna, when I was tiny as you,
dogs scared me. Especially big
ones, they were so big, fast and strong.
They seemed to know this
and always came running
to lick my face
which terrified me
when I saw those sharp, sharp teeth.

Now, all grown up I understand.
Dogs come to greet me.
Offer their hellos with wet noses and soft chins.

Dogs are different, just like people are.

They get sick, cranky sometimes,
but after a womble or two, they seem to recover
that doggie spark.

They don’t want to hurt you,
they’re just dogs,
they want to know why you are scared,
they would hug if they could,
and say, if they could talk,
how much they love you,
They lick to tell us this.

I had a friend, his name was Sam,
he was a very big great dane
belonged to a professor friend of mine.

When Sam ran, it was with a gait like a horse
Sam was so big you felt you could ride him.

He was kind of a goof.
He liked to play catch with
a slimy tennis ball which he fetched back
every time I threw it.

He’d trod up, but wouldn’t drop the ball,
you see, it was time for a game of doggie
tug-of-war. I would grab the wet ball
wedged within his saber-tooth grin.

Then Sam would start to pull and growl
and the fun would begin.

He pulled back with all his weight, as I did with mine.
Back and forth we went.

Sam’s nails would hit the floor
with a clatter, resisting as I pulled him towards me.

When Sam pulled, I felt his weight pull
from my fingers, up my arm, all the way
down my bent back to my planted feet

This was a big dog, he weighed 100lbs.
After a couple of back and forths, he’d let go.
Or I had won. another throw, we would do it all over again.

The times Sam would win,
he would prance back and drop
the tennis ball, dripping with victory, at my feet.

We did this until I tired of it. Sam could tell.
He’d leave me be for a while,
maybe sit and snooze, keep me company.
Sam was sweet.

Luna, I write you this,
now that you’re big sister,
make sure to tell Sol.