Glitz from the Ritz

In a fancy Ritz Carlton, on the seventeenth floor,

Lived Glitz the proud poodle, a dog to adore.

With a view of the park, he’d scoff at the strays,

‘Look at those mutts! What a terrible phase!’

From his high-rise perch, he'd look down with disdain,

At other dogs playing come sunshine or rain.

His silky white fur was as soft as cashmere

And his view of the world was perfectly clear:

‘That kind of life is truly a guff,

Rolling in dirt and staining one’s fluff,

With no formal manners and just chasing balls,

Barking out loud and peeing on walls…

‘I’m Glitz the proud poodle, and my spirit is high

And to THAT… down BELOW… I turn a blind eye!’

One beautiful evening, Glitz trotted outside

It was Opera night, on the Upper West side

In front of the Ritz was a limousine waiting

For walking on pavement could be so frustrating  

But THIS car took off and did a quick turnaround

Not towards his Opera, but the rough side of town  

The limo screeched, then stopped with a splutter

And Glitz jumped out, landing straight in the gutter!

Goodbye, sparkly Ritz, with your fairy dust glance,

And welcome, dark alley, with shadows that dance!

Glitz shook off the dirt with a sniff and a sneeze,

‘This MUST be a nightmare’ — he said with displease.

‘I demand to be helped, may the butler run fast!’

But the city just buzzed, and people walked past…

Rust, the street dog, had been watching nearby

His coat a bit ruffled, yet his tail stood up high:

‘Fluffy puffy dandelion, looking sad and all alone

Silky woolly dandelion, need a paw to get back home?’

Glitz took a step back, as hard as a stone

He could have said ‘no’, and walked off alone

A MUTT after all, who scratches and barks…

… Who knows every street, all the hydrants and parks !!!!

"Come on, fancy fluff—stop chasing your tail’

If YOU follow ME, I’ll show you the trail’

Through winding streets, Rust followed his nose

With Glitz close behind, dodging ankles and toes

A swoosh and a twang, a ding and a tap

A zing and a rumble  and a clink and a clap

‘What’s THAT?’ asked Glitz, his paws tight with fear

‘Well, THAT – is a concert; a treat for your ears!’

Glitz froze in his tracks, alert with the beat —

NO curtains, NO chairs, and NO music sheet !!!

There was no conductor, the rhythm just flew

The saxophone swirled and the piano danced too!

A boy in a jumpsuit was beating a drum,

And down in a corner a harmonica hummed

Without even knowing, Glitz started to move

His paws held the beat, and his tail found the groove!

Through bending alleys, past flickering lights,

Came sizzles and spices and savoury bites.

What’s THAT?’ Asked Glitz, as he sniffed something yummy

‘Well, THAT is STREET FOOD; a feast for your tummy!’

Glitz froze in his tracks, drawn in by the smells —

NO tables, NO candles, and NO silver bells?!!!

There was NO caviar, or garlic-soaked snails

NOR were there truffles, or fresh lobster tails…

Rust ran to the stalls and ate with delight

While Glitz followed close and tried his first bite

Street food is charming, an adventure each time

It buzzes with life, with colour and rhyme

The zing and flavour … no more play pretend,

Meals taste better when shared with a friend!

Through quiet lanes, past laughter and light

The park stretched ahead, with the moon shining bright…

‘WHAT’S THAT?’ asked Glitz, with a puff and a huff

‘Well, THAT is GRASS - a joy for your fluff’ 

Glitz froze in his tracks, his paws feeling sweet

NO warm cuddly blanket, NO soft velvet sheet ?!!!

Rust jumped up and down like a popcorn that popped  

And Glitz joined right in as he wiggled and hopped!

They laughed and they sang; sniffed flowers in bloom

They crossed through the park, and back in the zoom

With paws on the pavement and joy in their eyes

They gazed at the Ritz, as tall as the skies…

‘Fluffy puffy dandelion with your fur all coloured green

‘Silky woolly dandelion, changed by all that he has seen’

Glitz, the proud poodle, once cold and alone,

Had lived an adventure, his heart fully grown.

He had to accept; this was not what he'd asked

But he was SO happy and his tail waggled fast

The world is a treasure of diamonds and gold

Not those that you wear, you touch or you hold

The Ritz was still home, but Glitz had now learned,

That true joy is friendship and not what you’ve earned.