By Julie

Bashful
Cautiously, even though he
Knows me well
He approaches in a slow gallop
The sound of his hocks
Padded and slightly a faded yellow
Muffled by the carpet
The iSnooze singing
Classical music
Over the vague whistle
From the white-pink button of his nose

Two ears flopping
Like hot furry shields lengthwise, protecting
The sides of his head
Limp tail like a cotton ball
Sewn to the back of him, shadowing close behind
Dark eyes like
Ebony Marbles
Focusing pools of dark chocolate on me
He creeps closer.

A moment like a soap bubble
Of delicate simplicity
Fragile and precious as it floats through the air
He places his front paws on me
Silk against the roughness of my blue jeans
Wiggling, breakable claws kneading
He stares up at me, his nose working at the air
And replaces his paws upon the floor
He hops gracefully back across the carpet
Resting his head on his paws
He pushes himself into the floor
And the bubble rises
Into the heavens