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:

‘Such an existence seems terribly gruff

Rolling in dirt and staining one’s fluff,

With no formal manners and just chasing balls,

Barking at cats 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

He hopped in a limo, in his fine silver vest

But the car headed East when it should have gone West!

By the time Glitz noticed, they'd travelled too far

Now he knew in a flash he'd picked the wrong car!

The engine coughed once… then stalled with a splutter

Poor Glitz tumbled out —landing straight in the gutter!

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

‘A stray’, thought Glitz, his nose in the air 

‘With patches and scratches and wild, tangled hair!

He sleeps in the alley and lets out a bark

… But knows all the streets, every hydrant and park!’

'Come on’ said Rust—'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, 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; what a joy, what a treat!

They crossed through the park, and back in the street

With paws on the pavement and joy in their eyes

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

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.