I recently discovered a website called “Letters of Note.” http://www.lettersofnote.com Whoever thought of digging up old letters from famous, and not so famous, writers was genius. It all started with an obit that EB White wrote for his dog Daisy, who happened to be sniffing the flowers in front of a shop when a carriage careened into her. Most of us know White because of his spider named Charlotte; he is masterful at writing for children. I always thought that a good children’s writer had to have never really left childhood behind. There had to be a Peter Pan quality to him when he wrote about Daisy; that she was born, “an unqualified surprise to her mother.”
My Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Tootsie Roll, was extremely surprised when she delivered her brood in the corner of the living room, on the good rug, and NOT in the whelping box I had so carefully arranged in the family room. And as most doggie people know, each and every one of her puppies had a personality all its own. One was sweet and cuddly, one was aggressive and always first to dine. One loved to explore and one was always hiding. Blaze, the one we kept, was the alpha male. He seemed to know he was in charge of his siblings from the moment he opened his eyes. I was writing for the newspaper back then, but now how I wish I’d put pen to paper about the pups.
I am thinking of writing some small poems about our dog Buddha for the Love Bug. I’ve already asked my artistic sister Kay to illustrate a story or two. Buddha came from the SPCA at the Jersey Shore and looked a little like a polar bear – he was a hundred pounds of white fluffy Samoyed-mixed love! So tell me what you think of my first attempt at a beginning?
Buddha Springs into Action
Buddha awoke and stretched himself
Gently into downward dog
Looking up, he thanked the tree
Shimmering in the morning fog
The tree was full of birds
Singing sweetly, flapping wings
Dancing in her branches
A Blue Heron was the King
“Good Morning Buddha Bear,” he said
“Happy day to one and all”
The big white dog sat down at once
To hear the sea wind call
Buddha Bear in the Blue Ridge
MountainMornings 
Good for you! I’ve thought about doing some poems about all the wildlife we see in PA- haven’t started yet. And how about this– my first dog– a tri-color collie I named Lollipop– I was 5.
HA I was commenting on your blog while you were commenting on mine! And in light of your first dog, maybe you shouldn’t have told me? And also that song is now stuck in my head “you make my heart go biddy bop?”
Poetry goes right over my head, but I love the idea. Great picture of Buddha. He was a love!!
He certainly was! I wish you’d known him as a youngster Kathleen, a very brave and proud dog!