Cat: Dog, you’re in my way.
Dog: But Cat I want to play. Or at least I want to stay - where you are!
Cat: But dog, you’re in my way!. Your tail just keeps on wagging and it’s ruining my day.
Dog: Sorry, I can’t help it Cat, my tail has always done that. When the postman comes or it’s dinner time, or a ball gets thrown or I’ve been alone, all day. And then somebody comes home.
Cat: Doesn’t your tail get sore?
Dog: Sometimes.
Cat: Can’t you tame it or tape it to the floor?
Dog: I could try but I think it would escape. It’s got so much energy, it’s much too strong for tape. It’s too strong for me to chasten or tame. It contains my feelings, and for this I have no shame. If my tail should cease its wagging, then I might cease to be. Lose my exuberance or personality. Lose my ability to play or love or be. To enjoy this life of family and just being me.
Cat: Well I am happy that my tail is tame. That it doesn’t show me up or act out on its own. Or go mad in company. My tail can be alone. How can one be cool or calm, or nonchalant or chic, when one’s tail is flapping round and round. It’s really got a cheek.
Dog: Cat, your tail’s a beauty but it hasn’t much to say. It doesn’t befriend or share or express, it doesn’t invite a friendly caress. It doesn’t say “I love you” or “I think it’s time to play”
Cat: Maybe not, but your tail, Dog, is simply in my way.
Copyright Phyllida Alexander 30th July 2022
Dog: Hello hedgehog
Hedgehog: Hello dog
Dog: Do you want to come and play with me?
Hedgehog: Now dog, that might be fun, but I’m maybe not the one to get too close to, I’m quite prickly, you see.
Dog: But I don’t mind, I’m cuddly and kind. And I think that I can take a chance on you
Hedgehog: well that’s fine, but if a spiky spine should prickle you, remember - it was what you chose to do
Dog: I love you hedgehog
Hedgehog: you what?
[Dog lies down and rolls over}
Hedgehog: don’t you realise, the grass is full of pesticides. It isn’t safe to roll, in this spot
[Dog puts his paw on hedgehog’s back. It’s a bit sore but he doesn’t say. He knows that hedgehog can’t put his spines away. But he hopes, all the same, that hedgehog might stay, to hang out with dog for a little while today.
Hedgehog bristles. Dog is a bit close. Dog gets the message and backs off, tail a little lower but still wagging.
Hedgehog: sorry dog.
Dog: How about an icecream?
Hedgehog: it might get in my eyes, and then someone could stand on me before I realise, what’s about to happen, I could get squashed flat. And then there’d be no more of me. And that would be that.
Dog: maybe we could sit here, and just enjoy the view
Hedgehog: I suppose so, but there isn’t much to see, No mountains or vistas or pretty scenery. What will make it worth it, what d’you wanna do?
Dog: I’m really happy to be sitting here with you
Copyright Phyllida Alexander 30th July 2022
Butterfly flutters, she flies with flair
Way up above the thoroughfare
Rock lies below her, he’s everywhere
But butterfly daren’t land on him, she stays up in the air
Rock: D’you think that you could come
And rest a while, on me?
Land, and give your wings a break
It’s safe, I guarantee
Butterfly: But Rock, I'm busy dancing
(She does a pirouette)
There's just so much for me to do
And I'm not ready yet
Rock watches as butterfly visits a tree
And explores its woody complexity
And then she flies off, as fast as a bee
This fluttering beautiful entity
Rock: Butterfly, won’t you come down here?
And talk with me as planned
You can practise flying later
But just now, come, and land
Butterfly: But Rock, I’m scared!
If I stop flying now
I won’t be able later
I won’t remember how
Rock gazes sadly up at her
The butterfly in flight
Unable to relinquish this
For fear that she’ll be right
For fear that once she’s landed
She’ll never fly again
That she’ll be trapped upon the ground
Her wings won’t work, what then?
Rock loves the little butterfly
And wishes she’d come near
And that she’d let him help her
And that she wouldn’t fear.