I sometimes take my dog to the high street 

My dog that loves me best in the world

That looks at me adoringly

Always happiest pressed against me

And I let a friend hold his dog lead 

As I walk away from him 

Sometimes slowly 

Sometimes quickly

He seems to be okay for the first few steps away from him that I take 

His tail still wagging 

His happy face open and accepting

His eyes only on me

He does okay when I’m further away but still in sight 

But he might pull on his lead

Jump on his hind legs to get a better view of me 

It’s when I turn a corner or enter a shop

That the whining starts

The sound of it getting louder

More insistent 

As he pulls at his lead

Tries to wriggle out of his harness

So he can run after me

Even if that means running into the street or in harm’s way 

The staff in the shops give him sympathetic looks 

Offer him sad little smiles 

Say to me will he be okay?

Doesn’t he have a connection with you?

And I say hopefully with practice it will get easier being away from each other 

And in that moment I am the same as my dog

Needing your attention 

Your company

As I watch you walk away from me

I don’t let out a heartbreaking cry or pull against what holds me in place 

I just stand silently

Breaking slowly

Or maybe quickly