Freshly into the walk, I stumbled upon a Dog Mausoleum of sorts.  I knew my scruffy friend was in back of me as I shot this picture.  I was afraid because I wondered if he could read what I was reading…somebody’s beloved pet had died right on this spot.  It scared me and I wondered if this little friend would suffer a similar fate?  I had no idea what to do but kept going.  What could I do?

I did not have much choice except pray he would be o.k

So we walked on.

 

Along the way, I met a lovely lady with wealthy dogs.

My little friend just kept following me right to the street and right to the gate.

My Shadow

From Child’s Garden of Verses

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow–
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes goes so little that there’s none of him at all.

He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close behind me, he’s a coward you can see;
I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.