The Divine Old Dog,

surprises again,

she has navigated the world,

for 15 long years,

the winters wear her down,

but she has a twinkle in her eye,

on this cold day,

a hearty appetite,

a dance in her step, a bite to her bark.

What is it with you, Divine Old Dog?,

you are a force of nature,

an indefatigable spirit,

what is your secret?

well, she says, the twinkle in her eye,

a cackle in her voice,

I am a vampire dog, you see,

I feed off the souls of departed animals,

when one of them goes, I get stronger,

feel warmer, the bounce comes back to my step,

I soak up their souls,

how do you think I have lived so long?

and before I ask her if this is a joke,

or could possibly be true,

she winks

and blinks, and closes her eyes.

The vampire dog, she whispers softly, can live forever,

and soon, she is sound asleep,

on the empty bed,

by the wood stove.