Moe

i admit

i was lax with my dog

in training him.

i wanted

him to be free, to behave

as he wanted,

bark when he wanted,

chase squirrels

and cats at will.

i wanted him off the leash.

i never wanted him

to beg,

or roll over,

to heel. i didn't want

to force

new tricks upon him.

i wanted him to be

independent 

and incorrigible,

like me.

and so he was.