A Poem for Jack

Technically,
the most accurate
you can be about him
is that Jack is a
German shorthaired pointer.

He's also a Charlie in the box
and older brother to Jill,
and nemesis of Boo.

He's Dwayne's dog
and the second pet
in my sister's house,
a goofy presence
and somewhat awkward
before he got some
formal training.

He tolerates Jill's
foolishness and Boo's
attacks, because that's
what a big brother does,
but joins in whenever he can.

He's a gentle presence,
loves to curl up, loves
to eat (but then, what
dog doesn't?), stand up
and brace those paws
where they'll go.

(He was worse about that
before the training,
and that's (hopefully)
why he became known
as a Charlie in the Box
to the Jill everyone
wanted to kidnap.)

He may not be everyone's
favorite, but I cherish
him all the more, because
I get to enjoy what
no one else sees, a gentle
giant and a good companion,
just someone who's more
eager than they could be,
a small dog trapped in
a big dog's body,
who'll growl and protect,
but otherwise remain calm.

Oh, and he tugs on
every walk! But that
just means he's fun
to run with!

Jack makes me wish
there weren't so many phrases
badly construed against
his name, not the least
of which being Dwayne's own
"jacked up." I don't
like using those anymore.

Jack deserves better!

But he's still a big oaf.