The Great Dane Poet Searches the Air for Just the Right Rhyme
Most poets keep a notebook. This one keeps a whole library under his big paw. The harlequin Great Dane wears a black beret with a curling feather, a lace collar as wide as a dinner plate and a green velvet coat embroidered with gold. His coat is white with irregular black patches, and one patched ear is just visible under the hat. Two large paws, in white lace cuffs, clasp a leather-bound book to his chest, and his deep eyes seem to be somewhere far away, searching for a rhyme.
There is such sweetness in the scale of it. The giant dog and the delicate book make an unlikely pair, and the painter lingers on the book's worn gold edges as if it were a treasure.
Great Danes are often called gentle giants, and many of them are calm, affectionate and surprisingly sensitive. Harlequin is one of their coat patterns, with its white base and torn black patches. A dog this large needs plenty of room to stretch out, a sturdy bed and a diet planned with a vet, since puppies of large breeds grow quickly and need careful feeding. Great Danes also tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller dogs, so regular veterinary checkups are especially valuable. Many love being close to their people and will happily try to fit on a lap that is far too small.
If the poem ever gets finished, it is sure to be a tender one, probably about naps and the people who love them.
