The gravel path encircling the dog park is churned to mud. Wood chips, spread last season to fill in low spots, now form a waterlogged sponge underfoot. The sky, pale blue and cloudless, does not belie that we are in mid-dreary-chilly January. It bears a sense of oppression, making one inclined to slouch when walking, as if to clear a low ceiling.
The dogs don’t seem to mind the damp chill. Puddles, gritty mud, soggy clumps of sod… it’s all the same to their weather-hardened paws. There are balls to chase, fence posts to water and all manner of smells to sniff.
After a couple of plodding loops around the field, I catch up to my pup, who has paused to stick his nose up a Doberman’s butt. I latch the leash to his collar and we head out of the park. I sidestep pools of standing water, morosely noting that the rainy season has only just begun. My dog plows straight through the water, tongue flopping, slobber hanging off his chin. He — obviously — has failed to notice that we are in mid-fricking-depressing January.
gnarled bare tree shivers
arthritic branch points skyward
lays blame on winter
What Rhymes with Stanza? 
I miss walking the dog. The last time I did that was when I visited my daughter and we took her two to the park. It’s a time for taking in your surroundings and pondering – which is what you’ve done in your haibun, Maggie, and took me with your. I couldn’t help chuckling at the pup with its nose up a Doberman’s butt! Great phrase: ‘arthritic branch points skyward’.
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Thank you.
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It is amazing how dogs tolerate the weather better than we do.
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Good shaking your fist at January!
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Thank you.
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I like dog photos and great haiku at the end!
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Thank you.
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Love the joy of the dog… it has to be a bit contagious …. smiles.
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Yes, it is contagious. I don’t stay down long., 🙂
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I have one dog that splashes into puddles, and one that daintily walks around them. You got me with that “arthritic branch”.
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Thanks! Nothing dainty about my dog, but then being all white, he doesn’t stand a chance against the mud.
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I miss those mud-splashy messes… got to hand it to our dogs… they find cheerfulness in all circumstances.
Cheer up a bit- I hear we will be sunny and high of 57 later in the week!!
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Oh, I don’t stay grumpy for very long. Chuly and his antics wouldn’t stand for it.
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Isn’t that why dogs truly are best friends? ❤
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Brisco and Zoey would love to splash in that mud with Chules. Mama has been too busy and now I have a cold. They need some dirty splashy fun. 🙂
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Send them down!
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As soon as I get over this horrible cold, we’ll all be ready to visit!! 🙂
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I hope you have a speedy recovery. Brisco and Zoey are taking good care of you, I’m sure.
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Love the variety of perspectives….the sky, the dog, the writer.
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Thank you.
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Don’t let that slobbering, muddy dog near me! Nice description of an otherwise dreary day. And the reflection in the puddle makes a great photo.
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He only slobbers when he’s out running so hard. And he would probably never let YOU get close enough to HIM. We’ll have to try it some day, but I’m not hopeful.
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