fetch

the black dog sits heavy on the chest panting, panting. you want to throw a stick watch as off it goes good dog run, leave don't come back but no there it is days later staring, panting ready to start over. take it to a farm, the woods dump it, drive off fast, full speed three days later it's on the porch snoring, yawning. from alleys & snickelways gurt, shuck, hairy jack show up unannounced plop down, stretch. no omen but real as any storm cloud wanting to break loose. every black dog wants its day today yet every day wants to be dog-free. the pills do nothing. the drinks do nothing. the walks do nothing. the talks do nothing. the black dog sighs. the black dog waits. not today, not today.