Ollie barks at his brothers
spins, rests rump-risen,
front legs flat-on-floor,
tail wagging, watching
for one whisker-twitch
,,,,,too early, Ollie
Ollie whimpers, whines to play,
pesters his people,
peppers us with ankle-nips
drops his pink ball
at our clean-showered feet
….it’s 5 a.m., Ollie
we throw the ball
down the hall
he runs
looking back like
an NFL receiver
….too early, Ollie
slams into the door
every.single.time
slides sideways
his ice hockey ways
full-force as he plays
helmetless
no mouth-guard
all boy, all heart
Ollie knows no clock
with all twelve
padless pounds
seeking traction
on the wood floor
to bring the ball back
for another replay
…..go, Ollie, go!
Zechariah 8:5
And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.
Common Threads 