I try, but no matter.
I kick that old dog
but he does not become 
young again.

He doesn't want to fetch
the stick any more.
He refuses to roll over and
play dead.

He will not do it for real either.

But I will not let him just
lie there like he wants,
I can't.

I get tired of looking at him like that,
and yes,
To get him moving again I've tried kicking him.
I've tied a rope around his neck and pulled,
I even got behind and pushed.
but he insists on laying there.

What does he do?

He eats occasionally.
I only know this 
because of the excrement piles 
on the study floor.

He occasionally chews up a good shoe and
the Sunday paper. No,
He doesn't fetch it either
I have to fetch it.

Then when I'm not looking,
He chews up all my pens.