Sancho

Head bowed, tail lowered He slinks, dejected He moves, turns around Round and round As he settles down in his space. I am leaving for office.

Sancho looks at me, unsmiling I cannot fathom his expression But I know his sorrow at my leaving I cannot look him in the eye, I cannot bear to.

In the evening, I rush back home To see him, craning his neck For a glimpse Waiting, beyond the grilled gate Anxious, excited, tail wagging Vigorously.

I open the gate to a burst, An explosion of joy, Of barks, of howls, of leaps Happiness unleashed, Shining eyes, lolling tongue Telling me how he loves Just to see me, to be with me.

Though not as adept as he, I tell him how much I too love him My words, so inadequate! Yet I try, hugging him close, Smothering him with kisses – He knows.

Later, I wonder what he would think, What would the lengths, Of the vacuum of time and space be Stretching to infinity When I will have to leave him, Or he, me, forever.