All Four Plus her Swishing Tail ... a winter time Creek Side poem by Anne Selden Annab

       All Four Plus her Swishing Tail

Suburban dog walking- strolling 

slowly

after an immense snow storm...

My tall son is shadowed by little Bea

who is an exquisite sable

Shetland sheepdog, 

a small Sheltie, a fluff of fur on a long leash. 

In the deep snow

little Bea

carefully zig

     zags

a little to the left,

then a little to the right, 

vaulting ballerina leaps

with her dainty little paws

(all four, plus her swishing tail)

landing to fit perfectly 

filling each man-sized boot print 

                 left, right, left

as she looks closely, thinks, aims, & then follows 

with finesse and a flourish

in each 

of my tall son's thoughtful footsteps

 

                               poem copyright ©2026 Anne Selden Annab

Late January Magic Tricks - a Creek Side poem by Anne Selden Annab

 

       Late January Magic Tricks

After the snow

and an early morning

sunrise

at zero degrees-

Our frozen creek

and birdbath both

breathe steam...

Up where we are

momentarily

safe inside behind

the cold clean window

of our home we are maybe inches away

from    suddenly      shimmering         bits

of      ice            crystals

that   are 

floating     on      cold     air

here  and    there

out    side   .  .  .  .  .   eye level

everywhere we look...

Like tiny sparkling gems

levitating & spinning &

randomly mirroring 

minuscule rainbows

 

to give us rapture.

 

                                       poem copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab