My Puppies

My Puppies

by Spencer Bednar, 8-28-2019

They are the color 

Of a faded penny,

But worth so much more.

My Blue and Red, 

My puppies

Who look like chicken nuggets

When curled up in slumber,

Dance like snoopy 

When water is sprayed,

Love ice cubes,

And Mom’s yarn balls.

Become crazy cat’s cradles

Wound around couch, chair and table,

Puppies paws 

Not as clever as fingers.

Return from Fire Tower Trail,

Eyes still ablaze with adventure 

As I smolder and hit the couch.  

I love them, they love me, 

Their eyes begging, ears cocked,

Whimpering like there’s a weekend

Worth of homework in front of them

As I walk into school each morning,

The feel of their cloud-like fur 

Upon my cheek, 

Arms empty until 2:30 

When the bell reunites, 

And I’m the bacon

In a puppy sandwich. 

Goodbye Summer

Goodbye Summer

by Spencer Bednar,  9-18-2019

Last day of freedom,

the sky, a pale blue ocean above my head,

clouds lazily dog-paddling like fish

or like white swans floating upon shimmering water.

Last year, two swans begged for bread, 

king and queen of small island

at center of lake.  This year, 

I’ve only seen ducks…

which I chased, rushing and flushing them.

The picnic was my choice

not mom’s veggies and stuff, 

but Doritos, pickles and a sub

with meat, cheese, and mustard,

and a sprinkle of lettuce. 

Ice cold soda would have made it

…. perfect. But Mom packed

“nutritious” water.

Like the puppies, Dad was a toddler,

not wanting to go down for a nap.  

I felt happy as we were soon 

bombarding each other with blasts
of water-gun wrath, running around trees,

and rolling down hills. 

The puppies, leashed, barked

and cheered us on. Mom read magazines,

snuck a BBQ chip or two (possibly 64).

In every story, there is a close,

or there won’t be a new adventure.  

My new beginning began the next day.

Sixth grade.