noun: one who wanders in the night

I still awaken some nights
hearing the click click clicking
of his nails down the hall,
his tags jingling his arrival,

feel him making his way to
the big round bed on the floor,
softened by his aging bulk,
which means that you are

not far behind. And if I open
my eyes and rise, I’m sure
to find you together, man and
dog gone these many years,

one of you panting, both of you
smiling, four brown eyes issuing
a welcome without a word,
an invitation to sit with you,

my night guardians come to
lullabye me back to sleep, ones
I will carry into wakefulness
as I wander the world,

remembered.