Collar
a
summer visit long ago
brother,
sis and nephews
“puppies!
we have puppies uncle rob!”
twirling,
falling, running, underfoot fur
one
often apart from the brood
walking
around a corner, two brown eyes survey me
white
band of fur encircles neck
“we
named him Collar” nephews declare
another
moment
another
corner I turn
two
brown eyes
circle
of white
“he
chooses you” she said
“take
him when you go”
how
can I with condo hip car slick exec?
I
have no time for fur
two
brown eyes
they
spoke to me
wake
up!
think
how good it will be
papers,
rules, logistics
weeks
later
jetset
fur takes flight with smelly shirt
tiny
cage, alone, plane noise: fear
new
home: comfy cage, toys in condo chic
my
queen bed not in plan
but
best laid plans…
brown
eyes wake with me
friends
say he cries when I am gone
eyes
fill with joy on my return
face
to fur and muzzle
wet
hello
bouncy
walks along the country lane
darts
into woods and reappears in distance
his
head turns down and rockets to me
joy
joy joy
over
years old companions we become
best
friends through thin
no wavering
through thick
without
condition
addiction
creeps into my home
silent
deadly footfalls
on
knees I weep to god
Collar
whines and paces; unsure of what to do
lonely
nights in fear
danger
echoes within painful days
my
head against the breathing fur
comfort
mine to take
coming
out the other side
bouncy
walks re-appear
monsters
once in bed with me
go
to sleep
time
reaches out to my friend
his
waking seems so hard
walking
stiff and hurt
brown
eyes reach out to me
before
our last car trip
a
last glance at bowl and leash
many
last time moments
it’s
time for Collar to rest
my
face to moist nose
my
arms embrace
my
god
my
dog
