Phil Muldoon: ‘That worried friend of mine’

That worried friend of mine

The black dog follows me
that worried friend of mine

as I walk out into the garden
the sun behind the clouds

I can only see the blemishes
the imperfections

spots on the roses, discoloured leaves
blight on the orange tree

and that worried friend of mine
guides me as I stroke her coat

to a place within that needs caring
weeding like the garden

until I see the butterflies dancing again
up the path like ballerinas

the sun with its light
coming out from the cloud.

Phil Muldoon