#9 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2010.

“Awwwwwwwww!!”

Don’t you love her? What a face! Just look at those big, soulful eyes. Who could refuse this dog anything when she looks at you like that? Melt melt melt. Love. ♥

OUTSIDE DOG AT DINNERTIME

Perhaps
if I scrunch my nose
a bit more
against this glass door,

you’ll hear my whimper.

Must I wail?

Maybe a knock with my tail?

No need for a plate.

I’d settle for scraps.

Perhaps?

© 2010 Kristy Dempsey. All rights reserved.

I’m so glad Kristy brought Pepper to the Poetry Party! We had some Fat Cats here last week, so it’s only fair dogs get equal billing. Please come in, Pepper. You don’t have to stay outside. Oh no. Look what Kristy brought — chocolate!

Maybe wait a few moments while she shares her recipe?

Kristy: Our favorite recipe to make at home in Brazil is a common Brazilian treat, brigadeiro, named after a popular Brazilian Air Force Brigadier whose followers supposedly sold these treats to raise money for his presidential campaign. The presidential campaign was unsuccessful, but the chocolate treat has endured. The hardest part of making these sweet bonbons? NOT eating all of the mixture before you get it rolled and ready to serve. It’s also difficult to keep our dog, Pepper, away from the chocolate. She’s a notorious beggar. Look at that face! No chocolate for dogs, though! We have to cook up something else for her to enjoy while we enjoy our brigadeiro.

BRAZILIAN BRIGADEIRO

One can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup Nesquick powdered chocolate milk mix
Tablespoon of butter

Mix milk and Nesquick and heat to a soft boil. Turn to medium heat to continue boiling, stirring the whole time. When you can swipe a spoon across the bottom of the pan and can see the silver of the bottom of the pan for a second, turn the heat off. Let mixture cool. When cool, grease your hands and roll heaping spoonfuls into small balls and then roll each ball in chocolate sprinkles.

♥ ♥ ♥

Thanks, Kristy. We love you and we love your Top Dog. Ruff ruff!
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Kristy Dempsey is an American children’s author and poet who lives with her family in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Her debut picture book, Me with You (illustrated by Christopher Denise), was released in May 2009 to wide acclaim. Three more picture books are forthcoming with Philomel, Bloomsbury and Abrams. I had the pleasure of meeting Kristy in person last summer, and can attest to her warmth, open and loving spirit, and zest for life. A poet and storyteller since childhood, Kristy assures us that the Haunted House Poem she wrote in middle school was so scary, it would turn our nose hairs into a braid. You can read more about this self-proclaimed Madwoman at her blog, Reverie — Abstract Musings on a Hopeful Life. Just for the record, the Kristy I met had a great tan and perfectly coiffed nose hairs.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan’s alphabet soup. All rights reserved.