© Susi Franco

Sweetest Ilsa…
I watch you watch him
Your doggie eyes sparkling
With purest love and devotion
Entire body quivering
Anticipating his touch

I see your head hang
Tail droop
Spirit sag
When he disciplines you
Disappointment palpable
At being rejected
Once again.

Time after time
You offer him
Unconditional love.
Time after time
His response is
" CAGE, ILSA ! "

He judiciously measures
All nurturing
Given you
As if there is a limit
He may not exceed.

Its' so clear
Your puppy presence
Matters to him,
That he does need you near;
Perhaps that is why
You irritate him so.
Dear Ilsa,
Try to remember that
When he is annoyed
And sends you away…
When your beseeching looks
And eager silent bids
For attention
Become more of a demand
Than
He can fill.

Your canine world
Is balanced on
The tone of his voice.
You watch him
Your entire body
Wired and paralyzed
Awaiting his permission
To move.

We know the secret, Ilsa
You & I;
That sometimes it is better
To love
Than to be loved.
We must pity him
Puppy Girl
Because he is not facile
In the dominion of emotion
As we are.

My heart breaks for you,
Dear Ilsa _
We have so much in common;
Both us Bitches
Locked in our cages
Awaiting
The Masters' Hand.