I decided to take Stanley out in a storm
he looked up at me from the sofa in alarm
like I was a perverse and alien life form

but in retrospect his hesitation was right
it was gale force ten in lurcher bight
winds so strong he flew like a kite

bedraggled fur and chattering teeth
as soaked on top as we were underneath
we raged like two mad Lears on the heath

finally we made it back through the door
Kath said whose idea was the walk
Stan pointed at me with a paw