The Welcome Poem by Natasa To

It isn't just the wagging tail,
a metronome of happy zeal.
It isn't just the hopeful eyes,
that truly make a home feel real.

It is the paw upon your knee,
when silence has begun to grow.
The head that leans against your side,
to let you simply know… they know.

It is the guardian of dreams,
who sleeps beside you on the floor.
The scout who finds a thousand smells
behind a familiar door.

A clown who dances for a treat,
a runner racing in the park.
A shadow in the afternoon,
a spark within the coming dark.

They do not count our faults or wealth,
they do not care for pride or art.
They offer up their entire heart,
before we even start.

So here's to mud upon the floor,
and to the ball they bring to throw.
And to the love, with fur and grins,
that helps a human spirit grow.

For in their simple, noble ways,
a truth they never need to speak—
They are the welcome we all need,
the friend we barely had to seek.