Bezzy Mate

A Poem About Dogs

Cats have had more than their fair share of attention on my Substack over the last couple of months and so I thought it was high time that dogs got a look in too. I love dogs and whilst I recognise that they and cats are akin to chalk and cheese, Ange and I adore both species.

We often look after one of our neighbours dogs – Bella (pictured), who is a Jack Russell/Lhasa Apso cross and is utterly gorgeous and we also have regular sleepovers from our daughter’s dog – Noel, who is a Labrador crossed with a needy child. He’s a lovely dog but oh so complicated.

Noel didn’t have the best start in life you see and his first six months were ones of neglect and isolation before Becky rescued him, so he has some pretty serious attachment issues. He idolises Ange though which makes looking after him a bit easier.

Bella, on the other hand is a doddle and so long as there is a ready supply of treats then she’s quite content.

We’ve both had many dogs in our lives over the years and I thought it might be nice to get poetical again and pen an ode to man’s best friend.

And here it is…

Bezzy Mate

What’s for dinner? I don’t mind

So long as I can drag my behind

Across the carpet to my plate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

I’ll lick your skin, you taste so salty

I want a walk, where’s my halty?

Think I’ll jump the garden gate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

I don’t care if we get a soaking

I’ll shake it off while you’re de-cloaking

And paint the walls a nice shade of slate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

I’ll stare at you while you eat your dinner

Puppy dog eyes are always a winner

I’ll take whatever’s on your plate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

Is that someone ringing our door bell?

I’m going to bark like merry hell

To let them know they’re on my estate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

When we meet another dog whilst taking a strut

I’ll have to stop and sniff its butt

It’s the doggy way of having a date

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

That garden could do with digging up

Just the job for an active pup

Those daffodil bulbs I’ll ventilate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

I’d love a nice big bone to chew

And doggy treats, more than a few

Then express gas as your friends congregate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

It’s six a.m and I can still hear you snore

I need to scratch the paint off your bedroom door

It’s breakfast time and you are late

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

Let’s both curl up now on the settee

You can tickle my ears, oh such glee

I want it now, I just can’t wait

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

It wasn’t me who emptied the bin

Another canine must have come in

I’m innocent I tell you, please don’t berate

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

I hate it when you’re out at work

By the front door all day I lurk

All day on the mat I sit and wait

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

When you come in I’m going to slobber

Or protect our home in case it’s a robber

I’ll get so giddy, work myself into a state

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

I’m getting on a little bit now

The joints ain’t so good on this old bow-wow

But I still adore you, you’re paw-some, you’re great

But you don’t mind, I’m your Bezzy Mate.

Time to go now to that Rainbow Bridge

No more treats coming out of the fridge

I’ll wait for you so don’t hesitate

I’m your ever loving four-legged mate.

If there is still a dry eye in the house then sheesh, you need to have a word with yourselves. Like I said earlier, Ange and I have had some incredible dogs in our lives. A special mention should go to those wonderful woofers who are no longer with us – Kato, Suzy, Bubbles, Flossie, Nobby, Stella and Max. We miss you all.