My doggy pets herself with my bare foot.
The foot is there, she thinks, idle appendage.
Why not let it do rewarding work?
My foot responds unthinkingly to her command.
It fetches the affection she has thrown,
And she extols me with her lavish wag.
(c) 2026 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved
EthicalDative 
What a sweet moment. Sometimes, the simplest gestures between a pet and its owner are the ones that convey the most joy and affection. 🐾💙
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I’m warmed by your lovely comment. Best regards.
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😉
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A lovely poem and drawing too.
Jim, I think you might be interested in this article (as long as the link works!)
https://www.themonthly.com.au/share/04bc8485-a471-4dad-a021-b9416a07b9ac/Vv4t3XyK
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Sue, I’ve read the Ondaatje article completely upon opening your comment. I knew him by name only, hadn’t read any of him. This Luke Beesley who writes it himself has quite the chops! He writes a soaring account of the poetry. I love the Bessie Smith paragraph. Beesley mentions that one of Ondaatje’s favorite words is “swerve,” which reminded me one of mine is “verve.” We have most of one word in common! Also, I noticed his love of the pooches! We share that too. Thanks so much for sharing it with me. After clearing its throat, the link worked. (Thanks too for liking my doggerel and sketch.)
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I’m delighted that you enjoyed the article as much as I did, Jim. (I too think Luke Beesley writes beautifully). I think I’ll now reread Ondaatje’s The English Patient – I read it quickly when it was first published (and enjoyed the movie) but probably didn’t appreciate his writing as much as I should have.
I am glad the link worked all the way from Australia!
cheers, Sue
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Ha-ha! These links travel well nowadays, Sue. BTW, side topic, I’ve heard recently an extended interview of Kevin Rudd by the NYTimes. His was the most fluent, articulate, terse and persuasive voice that I’ve heard in many a day. The topic was Xi Jinping and what he wants.
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Apologies for my delayed response, Jim. We just had a week away in a slightly warmer city.
Yes, Kevin Rudd is an interesting, erudite and very intelligent man – probably not the best person to be our Prime Minister as he wanted to control everything because he was so much more intelligent than everyone else! However, as a diplomat and academic he’s excellent. (And the Donald didn’t like him!!!)
Cheers Sue
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Yikes. There is a down side to thinking you’re the smartest person in every room! Good to have your native perspective on Mr. Rudd. I was hooked when I read that he speaks fluent Mandarin! But that doesn’t a politician make.
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Sweet poem and artwork 🙂
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Perhaps you’re a dog lover too? I appreciate your kind compliment.
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Im a cat lady, we have a black cat 🐈⬛️ but dogs are cute too.
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My elderly calico cat Spot and her younger feline colleague Midnight (guess his color!) send your black cat their regards! 🙂
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Thank you Spot and Midnight, from Indy! It’s lovely connect !😊
Tell Spot that we had an elderly cat, Brina ..(short for Sabrina.) She was a slinky beautiful black Burmese. She reached 22yrs before she called it a day ❤️ she was born on 11.11.2000. Love and hugs to your furbabies 🐈⬛️😊
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Dogs. Cats. Both are wonderful. We don’t deserve either of them. But you might be a tad more circumspect with a bare foot and a cat.
Very nice drawing and poem.
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Very generous compliment re drawing and verses. Thank you! On the companion front I divide myself between (“among” actually) a dog and two cats. Judging by traffic to my feeder, I’m nourishing most of the wild birds in my neighborhood as well!
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I like dogs, but I’m more of a cat person:
https://www.josieholford.com/i-like-dogs-but-im-more-of-a-cat-person/
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