This poem deals with my discovery in 1995 (like where had I been the last two years?) that there's a whole big interconnected global community out there -- the Internet. But if you're reading this, you know all about it -- so I don't have to explain it (as I sometimes used to at live readings). Oh, and one other fact -- in a recent book Merike read out to me a question. What is it that dogs want the most? I don't know, I said: car-rides? pats on the head? a bed to sleep on? No, she said. The book says that what dogs want the most: is to see other dogs. Mady, unfortunately, is no longer with us.

		Last Thursday night
		just after eleven
		when the dial-in rates go down
		but still an hour before the dooropeners would be back
		Mady leapt up on the computer chair
		placed one delicate paw on the trackball
		and listened to the mouse-like sounds she'd heard so often
		the modem handshake squeaking to its close -
		so this is what it's like, she thought.

		First she visited the Finance home page
		scanned the charts of the latest budget
		boring stuff!
		but those were the bookmarks left by the dooropener
		she'd need to escape those ruts!
		random poking at the keys would, she knew,
		occasionally yield a valid Web address
		(the dooropeners don't do much better -
		the Web's so disorganized
		like a huge maze of burr bushes
		sort of place a dog can feel at home in)

		Presto, the last poke brings up a Home Page for Poodles
		who'd have thought?
		new URLs appear on the Web every day
		no dog can track them all
		but now here they are
		gif images of standards, miniatures, toys 

		Another click of the trackball
		and she's looking at Planet Shmooze
		a list of rock bands
		can't find the one she wants.
		Fingers NASA
		and receives the latest Mars flight details.
		Fetches a couple of files from U-Mich
		in case they contain dog pics (they don't)
		does an archie search for chewsticks
		comes up empty-pawed -
		Dogs obviously have a ways to go
		populating this Net with useful stuff -
		like who needs these minutes from
		the Info Highway Advisory Council anyway?
		checks the recent G7 Conference
		someone has proposed an electronic commons for dogs
		where no one needs to be put on a leash
		(as if dooropeners could make leashes work in the new world anyway)


		She hits the back button a few times
		and, sure enough, back comes
		the Home Page for Poodles
		she clicks on the trackball
		and here's a standard from Singapore wanting to chat
		What's life like in Canada? asks Singapore
		OK, says Mady
		in fact, it's really good -
		squirrels to chase, lots of soft sofas
		and her friend Zeph to play with.

		You have a friend? yips the Singapore poodle, envious.
		Well, yes. Doesn't every dog? asks Mady, puzzled.
		Not on this island; most of us are alone.
		What a bummer, woofs Mady, giving the image a sniff,
		but you can be my friend, says Singapore

		Yeah,  says Mady, so let's Chat OK 
		(not, in fact, entirely sure how it's done
		but now, thinking of some things to say,
		she bounds right into it)
		I think one day, she woofs,
		all the dogs of the world
		will be able to touch noses like this, don't you think?
		and sniff out every good thing there is to know and feel
		and where bones can best be found
		and which chesterfields are the softest
		and how best to train dooropeners
		and the frequency of meat-nibbles
		and having a good friend like the Zeph
		and, really, everything that's important in life
		because we'll be running like in one global pack
		all part of the same litter
		and care for and sniff at each other 
		and maybe even teach dooropeners to as well
		and . . . she comes to an abrupt pause
		having run out of thoughts

		Hey are you white or black, asks Singapore
		apricot, woofs Mady
		way cool, taps in the reply, I'm tan myself
		look Mady, I gotta go now - lunch time
		I'll link to you tomorrow an hour earlier

		and the screen flips to the Intelligent Island Index
		Why do they eat lunch at midnight? Mady wonders
		but not everything is to be understood
		even though poodles are  very intelligent.


		Lost in thought, Mady stares at the screen
		then flips to Finland
		what kind of dogs are there?
		Zeph looks up at her quizzically
		(Zeph's a great friend and very real and right here
		and knows which ways to run for squirrels
		and is the pack leader in most things but
		she's not computer-literate)
		OK, just one more Web-browse in the bird section
		I really like the big ducks, Mady pants in anticipation.
		But Zeph paws at the chair urgently (Zeph's always urgent)
		Hurry it up, paws Zeph, I hear the car.

		Already? woofs Mad; already?
		time sure flies when you surf!
		quick, get off the Web
		do a soft close, paw the modem switch to off
		roll the trackball till the screensaver comes on
		run downstairs in front of the door
		stand looking innocent, wag the tail.

		They're back! the dooropeners are back!
		Zeph jumps up and down, up and down, up and down.
		Mady smiles happily - now there'll be chewsticks.
		Only one worrycloud drifts lazily across her sunshine mind
		how to tell the dooropeners tomorrow's e-mail from Singapore
		is for her.

Copyright © Rod Anderson 1995