Taking the Dog Out

Slipping on shoes
Means its time to go out
The dog responds on cue
I walk into the yard
And stand in the sun
Hear random tweets
From unseen birds
While others sing
Their songs
Off in the woods
Crows call and caw
A woodpecker drums
Out his cadence
On the side
Of a dead tree
As the dog marks
His territory standing
On three legs
Then takes the slack
Out of the leash
Yawns and looks
Back at me
Yes, it is time
To go back inside
To be lazy once again
In the quiet house