In case you’re expecting some deep meditation on the practice and value of going for a walk, or an extended metaphor about life as a walk–or anything like that, let me warn you: This isn’t that kind of poem. This is just a rambling, silly little rhyme I composed in my head yesterday afternoon while I was, well, walking my dogs.
Every day when Mom walks
through the door

we know she’s gonna ask
do we wanna go for…
a walk.
Go for a walk.
And you know it’s true
that we always do
take a walk.
Go for a walk.

Whether hot or cold
new route or old
we take a walk.
Go for a walk.
Whether through the park
or our own neighborhood,

whether Mom’s day was bad
or whether it was good
we take a walk.
Go for a walk.
Mama didn’t raise no fools
and ‘dem’s the rules:
We take a walk.
Go for a walk.
Rain, sun, or snow–
we can wear our coats.
We walk in all weather–

we can wear our sweaters.
We take a walk.
Go for a walk.
A walk never fails
to make us wag our tails.
Let’s take a walk.
Go for a walk.
Whether long or short
Mom gives Dad a report
about our poops and our pees
(it’s a little embarrassing)

At age 12 and 14,
we know the routine:
We take a walk.
Go for a walk.
No matter the season
and here’s a good reason
to take a walk,
go for a walk:
We’re both puppies at heart
because each day we
finish and start
with a walk.
Go for a walk.
