Poem #24: Raising Rooney- "Training Class: A Poem in Two Voices"

Rooney and I go to training class together on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. It's always interesting, to put it mildly. He's gotten much better as he's gotten older, but when he was younger, it was awful. We would practice and practice and practice, and then we'd get to class, and he'd see his friends, and get really excited, and forget everything he had ever learned. A poem in two voices seemed the perfect format. 

Rooney at a training class outing, Summer 2020

"Rooney at Training Classes: A Poem in Two Voices"

                                I am a service dog-in-training.

I am a good boy.

                                                     I am a party animal

I go to school every day.

                                                    I go to class twice a month. 

I enter the building calmly. 

                                                    I lunge through the door.

                                                    Mama and I try again

                                                    Usually several times. 

I respond to my name. 

                                                    I don't know my name.

I greet people nicely. 

                                                    I forget four on the floor.

                                                    I lick my trainer's face. 

                                                    I sniff my friends' butts. 

I settle in my bed. 

I go to my sleep. 

                                                    I go to my mat.

                                                    With several reminders.

                                                    I try to settle but my head 

                                                    keeps popping up.

I am very quiet.

Sometimes I snore.    

                                                    I whine a lot.

                                                    Sometimes I bark. 

                                                    Oops. 

We practice a lot. 

I know my commands. 

I can recall from half a city block

Even if there are treats on the floor.

                                                Clearly mama doesn't work with me.  

                                                I don't know any commands.

                                                I can recall ten feet. 

                                                but I sometimes take detours

                                                for other dogs. 

I am a good boy. 

                                                I am a party animal. 

                        I am a service-dog-in training.