The little black dog is dying
he drags his hind-legs
lingers in the kennel
whines at all hours
won't eat
the little black dog is dying
spinal column falling apart
discs collapsing without a chance to rebuild
abused by drunks as a pup
saved from the gutter
we gave him a yard
and a patch of grass
but he never stopped cowering
over the years we fed him
bones and gravy
mash and dry biscuits
but he never stopped staring
fierce wounded eyes ready for beating
never stopped snapping if we tried to put on a collar
to keep him safe on a walk in the streets
never stopped shying away
when we tried to bath or to pet him
but today when I gave him his pill
he licked my hand
licked my face
he swallowed that pill in one gulp
the pill that makes the pain that will not go away
go away
at last the little black dog
let me hold him
