WATCH YOUR STEP

                        Dedicated to Le Ann

I often walk with my dear friend, Jill.

Our preferred route is the uni. hill.

We walk in the summer, fall and spring

But not in winter: that's not our thing.

It's much too cold and it's not so nice,

We're not so keen on the snow and ice.

And quite often then there is no sun,

The overcast days are not much fun.

We dream of Waikiki's nice sandy beach

But in winter time that's out of our reach.

And when spring comes we're eager to go,

Quite glad to see the end of the snow.

But there's one big problem we both find.

It's the dog poop piles; you know the kind.

We must not dare be blissful dreamers

In case we tread in big brown steamers

Simply because we like to talk;

That is the highlight of the walk.

Those careless dog owners are to blame.

Because of them it is such a shame

That the nice wide sidewalks are so soiled

And people's walks are constantly spoiled

When they're forced to dodge the messy piles

On pavement smeared like checkerboard tiles.

Sometimes they have to walk on the road

If several dogs have had to unload.

Traffic can be heavy as can be,

Dangerous for walkers, you'd agree.

And when it's raining it's even worse,

Soggy dog poop really is a curse.

The City has tried to do its best,

They've passed a by-law, I can attest.

Dog owners must pick up all the way,

Even when it's dark, not just by day.

They've also supplied big garbage bins

But owners are still guilty of sins.

Perhaps they should issue hefty fines,

Display penalties on warning signs,

Make each dog owner carry a scoop

When he so chooses to walk the loop.

I'm tired of this being something to "Shush,"

I'm so sick of beating around the bush.

And so today I'm having my say:

LET'S HOPE THIS PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY.

                               Revisited and revised     May 20, 2023

A/N I haven't walked the uni. hill yet this spring  because it has either

         been too icy or too smoky. The smoke has come from the raging

          wildfires in northern Alberta,  the adjacent province to our 

          beautiful British Columbia. Many of the fires are still uncontrollable.

          Apparently two people have been apprehended for deliberately

          starting twenty of them. I cannot understand such mentality.  ~ Gail

                                                                                                        20 / 05 / 23