good advice

Secret Of Walking Dogless

Go east on Sixth.  Keep the clip brisk, a trick

dear to dogless walkers; hands that long for

Snapping twanging leashes bereft, empty,

Retreat to deep jacket pockets searching

for the missing Milkbone, clenching themselves

into dormant balls.  Fetch! Retrieve them, set

them swinging in brash arcs, fingers popping

keeping time to something upbeat, punchy

lodged in your head.  North now on Wilson Street

through old growth neighborhoods sprouting new buds

Here and there; tear downs hauled away, fresh sod

unrolled, wending your way at last to the

gates of Oak View where you can drop the act

at last and stroll among the squat graven

slabs away from prying eyes, safe among

friends, hand extended in exult charade.