The Journey Inward

My dog never questions what he needs.  
He never worries how others will perceive him.  
He is not caught up in what he "should" be doing.
Henry just is.
He acts on his feelings.
He asks for what he needs.
He takes care of himself.

Today that looked like a nap.
An hour after waking up.
On the back porch, on the loveseat,
With his little brother and I watching him.
He didn't feel the need to pop up,
Or take part in our kitchen floor game.
He takes care of himself.

Later, I came downstairs to discover mulch everywhere,
Across the kitchen, dining and family room floors,
The path from the yard to his indoor bed.
I stepped outside to return the mulch to its rightful place
Only to discover the porch loveseat was also filthy.
Henry had undone his Saturday bath with a roll in the mulch,
Followed by a luxurious nap.

You go, Bud!

Photo:  Flemington, NJ.  8.13.23 by LA