The dog comes dripping from the poem
as from sparkling water.
It's for you to love the animal
in a snapshot of his nature.
See him shake himself dry-
a dot-to-dot of glassy beads.
I say see, I mean imagine
and step back, true to your nature.

( Don't worry: when I say you I'm thinking 
of myself, it's how these things work.)
You don't own the creature, you can't
even stroke or pet it; a beast 
who won't come at your command.
But you can see, I mean imagine
it's a beautiful day in the poem
when the tail wags the dog.