Man and Labrador
walking slowly down the street.
One foot. Two paws.
One foot. Two paws.
A simple pattern unrehearsed.
They’re not talking to each other
in that way humans and animals
don’t talk to each other that much
or hungover best mates
having spent the evening before
using up every in-joke carved
out of a mountain friendships,
their personalities exhausted,
warm, relaxed. One of them
does a poo on the pavement.

Carl Burkitt 2024