Snaps: the Whelps
(Newstead near Castlemaine, Vic.)
This shows our feet under siege from ten
five-week-old blond Labrador puppies:
while their mother takes a breather
from giving them suck around the clock
they swarm quietly over our boots
chewing laces and leather edges.
2
This is how the mother stands just
like the wolf suckling Romulus and Remus
while not two but ten babies reach
over each other for eight milky dugs.
3
Here, separated from their sisters,
are the five male pups, all-in wrestling.
And these are the girl pups not quite
so boisterous, tumbling about.
4
This is the breeder, handing one pup
to my wife to carry, and bundling
four into the old shopping trundler
which we follow to the whelping room.
5
She wonders which pup my wife will fancy.
What a choice! All perfect blondes
with cute dark eyes, soft bodies,
each in turn snuggling into her shoulder.
6
This is the chosen one, neither wild
nor passive, and with bigger eyes.
7
This is my wife, bonding, tearful
at having to reject four lovable ones.
And me, committing, resigned,
to serve one more life sentence.
Max Richards
now back home
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