There’s a lovely little garden in my front lawn 

In the evening it’s mystical 

Me and my pup sit out there at sunset – it’s typical 

Billy weaves in and out of the beds bare-pawed 

We take the nature in: the sunflowers, the wrens, the grapes, the cicadas and all 

Sometimes I just stare out 

Billy roams leisurely like a cow or a piglet 

His bushy tail waves 

He nibbles on the cucumber leaves, just a little bit 

And he likes carrots

He could be the Cadbury Easter bunny 

He’s got big floppy ears, brown eyes

He’s so cute and cuddly 

I’ve never cared for babies and infants 

Could never see myself with a kid

Some people tell me there’s not much difference – between babies and dogs 

In fact, I refer to mine as the baby 

I might as well call the garden our nursery

Golden retriever love is currency

I’m wealthy 

I watch my pup plant his big old paws

And pull weeds and chase balls

Strands of his golden fur take flight like dandelion seeds in the wind 

I don’t care what people say 

He’s my baby and my best friend