The Skin That’s Holding You In
Oh how I love the skin that’s holding you in
It keeps you in one place
So I can find you
I love the skull that holds that mind of yours
And your ribs to cradle those lungs
Those deep breaths you take when you finally let yourself relax
When you know you’re home for the night
Your deep barrel chest, holding in your heart
Your sweet, playful, eternal puppy heart
I love the hair that grows to keep you warm
To give you color
The black streak down your back
That one light patch down your neck
The widow’s peak down your forehead
Your white feet that look like socks
I love how the hair on your nose
Knows not to grow too long
How does it know?
I love those satellite ears
Always listening, always ready
And when your ears flop inside out
And need help to get undone
I love how they flop forward when you’re perfectly at ease
Knowing it’s safe here
Safe enough to not miss out on anything exciting
I love the way your droopy eyes give you away
When you try to pretend you weren't just sleeping
The way your tail wiggles when you see me looking at you
The way your broken tail cradles you when you’re curled up for sleep
The 90 degree angle it makes standing up over the ocean of your back
Like a submarine’s periscope
Peeking, peeping up
I love that you don't wag any less because of it
A broken tail wags just as much
What a happy pup
I love how you nudge your head under my hand
When you want more pets and head rubs
I love the reflection you paint of me
Your love of sleep and lying down
You don’t need much action to be perfectly content
When you do run, you don't know your limits
Your elbows may not be as good as they used to be
But you seem to forget and go chase around like a maniac anyway
Even if you’ll end up sore after the fact
Your spirit doesn't age, pup
Food makes your eyes wider than I thought your eyelids should allow
And despite the enthusiasm crawling out of you
You are still so gentle
Even grabbing a treat from a young child
You used to stay sleeping in bed with me until noon
Even when breakfast was ready downstairs
That’s how I knew
You are my pup
I love your snuggles
Even though you rarely stay the whole night these days
Just long enough for you to know I’m sleeping
Then back on guard, I guess
I love your jump into bed with me in the morning
And the heavy lean into me
I pretend I want you to be more independent
But I love how you’re always looking for me
Always wanting me in sight
You never lose me in your gaze
And the way your butt wiggles when I'm finally walking back towards you
Or when someone gives you a butt rub
You wiggle butt
I love the scars you wear on your knees
Of what a resilient pup you are
And that they also remind me you’re part bionic
Sometimes I think of when you’re no longer with me
Maybe i’ll ask for those screws back
Make them into something I can wear
So you’ll always be with me
To keep you right here
Close to my heart
Where I can find you
I don’t know if I’m supposed to think about these things
You’re my first pup, pup
My snoop
Lately you’ve been lifting your leg when you go out to pee
I’m impressed every time
“You go girl,
Show that tree what you can do.”
And how you’re self aware and intelligent
You skip on one paw when the leash is caught under one of your arms
You don’t like that
Oh pup. I love your spirit. Your sweet, sweet soul
How I love the skin that’s holding you in
It keeps you in one place
So I can always find you and hold you
My sweet girl
What a kind spirit
We were made for each other, pup
At this point in time
My soul dog
I look closely at your face
Wondering if maybe I count each of your whiskers
I can slow the time it takes
For each of them to turn white
I tell myself a soul never dies
But these whiskers need to stop changing so fast
I wonder what you’d say
If you could speak
I never understood how someone could so love
Someone that can’t ever say it back
But I’ve been around the world
I’ve been at a lotta places
Spent a lot of time
And seen a lot of faces
But there’s no one
No one like Luca Lou
I love you