Charlie

A poem

This morning I think about 
my old neighbor’s dachshund

and his leash, 
which slides along the laundry line

that stretches across the lawn
and gives him full access to 0.18 acres of land
minus a modest house 

Sometimes he wraps around various structures:
the lawn chairs, the legs of the pergola, the cherry tree
which grants him shade

Lately I’ve been feeling like Charlie
The freedom is invigorating
I discover

I can go laterally
a bit longitudinally
and I can even go in circles

I find extra stretch in my leash
pushing past previously understood limits

Until I feel that familiar snag and
I whimper, stuck

Like Charlie, I’m a good one;
a bit yappy, maybe
and I like to escape sometimes

But I don’t want to break free
untethered

I retrace my steps
unwind myself
travel those circles again
tucking the retractable leash back in
(it will always be there for me!)
I've traveled so far

Tired, I turn around in one final circle
and lay myself down
I’m home