76 THE NEW BARKER
www.TheNewBarker.com
A Dog’s Life
*Richard Blanco was selected by President Obama as the fifth Presidential Inaugural Poet in U.S. history. Born in Madrid to Cuban exile parents and raised 
in Miami in a working-class family, Blanco’s personal negotiation of cultural identity and the universal themes of place and belonging characterize his many 
collections of poetry, including his most recent, Homeland of My Body. In 2022, Blanco was appointed the first-ever Poet Laureate of Miami-Dade County. 
He is currently an Associate Professor at Florida International University. www.Richard-Blanco.com
How Do I Love Thee?
How do I love thee? Let me bark the ways. 
I love thee for your first gaze into my eyes 
The day you rescued me, best friends for life. 
I love thee faithfully for your divine praise. 
 
Every time I sit, shake hands, roll, or catch – 
Obeying you, not just for your tasty treats. 
I love thee gleefully each day you greet me 
With a rub of my ears or a good belly scratch. 
 
I love thee gratefully for all the poops you scoop 
For rainy walks, for the toy you give me to shred 
Even for those goofy outfits I pretend not to dread. 
I love thee wishing I could live as long as you. 
 
Will live, so that I may keep on loving thee 
For the rest of your life, unconditionally.
by Richard Blanco* 
(with apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
From Foster to Forever: Freya, safely in the arms of Noah, is 
in her forever home, thanks to Florida Urgent Rescue’s foster 
program. Found wandering as a stray during the Florida cold 
snap, earlier this year, no one knows what her life looked like 
before. But, one thing is certain: She will never be alone again. 
www.FloridaUrgentRescue.org

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