Well Met

She is a great lumbering beast,
this Bernese mountain dog
pacific in temperament,
haircoat thick as a bear's
hot pink tongue lolling lopsidedly
with the effort of her
uphill-downhill trek through
trails sodden with newfallen
snow, curious about the
tiny creature furiously yapping
from the secure perch
of its human's arm, inviting
the behemoth to do battle,
anytime, anywhere, choice
of weapons predetermined.