Dog in Bed by Joyce Sidman
Dog in Bed
Joyce SidmanNose tucked under tail,
you are a warm, furred planet
centered in my bed.
All night I orbit, tangle-limbed,
in the slim space
allotted to me.If I accidentally
bump you from sleep,
you shift, groan,
drape your chin on my hip.O, that languid, movie-star drape!
I can never resist it.
Digging my fingers into your fur,
kneading,
I wonder:
How do you dream?
What do you adore?
Why should your black silk ears
feel like happiness?This is how it is with love.
Once invited,
it steps in gently,
circles twice,
and takes up as much space
as you will give it.
KEEP READING
SHARED WITH GRATITUDE
This poem appeared in The World According to Dog by Joyce Sidman, published by Houghton Mifflin, 2003. (Available on: Amazon • Bookshop)
ABOUT JOYCE SIDMAN
Born and raised in Connecticut, children’s poet Joyce Sidman earned a BA in German at Wesleyan University. Sidman has published numerous books of poetry for children, including Newbery Medal–nominated Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night (2010, illustrated by Rick Allen); Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors (2010, illustrated by Beckie Prange), which was named a Best Book of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly and the Washington Post and a Best Children’s book of… (more)
Read more poems by Joyce Sidman • Find books by this poet on Amazon • Bookshop • Follow on Instagram • Website • Or view my library
ENDNOTES
- Explore other works in pursuit of: love • intimacy • pet • Or browse the index
- If this work resonates with you, please consider supporting the archive. Thank you for reading.





RONALD EVERETT RAHME
Perfect