i love the sound of a body,

any kind of body,

entering the pond~

a person

a boat

a dog.

Yes, especially a dog.

i love the leaping plunge of all fours,

the giving over of earthly paws to the luscious waters.

Once summer winds down and the children return to school,

it is the dogs that frequent the pond,

accompanied by a two-legged friend,

but sometimes on their own.

Like yesterday,

when an old Bassett Hound and a Shepard Mutt

crashed the gates to this member only swimming hole,

and took turns dipping

and alternately shaking off

which theydid rightnext to me & my blanket–

as if they wouldn’t know they were dry

unless someone else

was wet.

Kelly Salasin, South Pond, September 26, 2010