grateful dog

that side of the atlantics i have seen
the guard dogs in homes
including my own
being fed with the left-over food
served forever on that same
unwashed, untidy old plate
or, even on a cement floor
outside the mansion

and with my own i have heard
my dog always said
he is grateful
with the swift wagging of his tail

i too have adopted that tale
to joyously re-tell
my receiving spousal support
unannounced, but dropped in that
unwashed, unkempt td account
i becoming, soon, my spouse’s grateful dog

thunbergia mysorensis

is the name they gave me, a vine
with spectacular long chains
of yawning red and yellow flowers
and dark green foliage

my handsome features
and trail to success
were due to my sure anchoring
and climbing on my support

converting my stems to tendrils
i clung to my support to move
towards the sun that brightened the earth
bringing credit also to my name

but soon i forgot that support
to kick it hard as it aged and dried
while earlier, it was a tight clinging
to that that made me productive

soon, i know for sure, like my support
i too would age and dry to decay
then it would be too late
to express my gratitude to my support