Dog Days

My arms and sides are sore
from faux auditions
for Cirque Du Soleil.
I can pull myself up
into a hand stand, gripping
ten pound barbells for support
and point my toes up
for about 15 seconds now.
And when I wake up
and rub my eyes after coffee,
it's the dog days that relax the sore
biceps and lats,
as I reach for their droppings
and continue to walk.
Decker and Moby,
both labs and lurching
alternately on leashes
are my guides around Leybourne.