the cat is exploring
the downstairs
once more
the first time(s)
since the puppy arrived
she’s finally comfortable enough
to be in the same floor level
as the spastic young dog
but only because
the dog is
all crated up
what will happen with the puppy has free reign
of the downstairs
again?
i hate seeing our puppy
in pain
and distress
but it’s almost sadder to see her
happy
and jovial
and so very puppy-like
when we know we can’t let her
act on that energy
for another full month
lest she break something else
my goodness
this puppy
little puppy
tiny acl tear
even teenier fracture
why are you like this?
i don’t really know
what
i want to do
what words i want to say
to share
with folks of varying varieties
acts
claps
applause
what is it all
and what is it all for
you know?
~~~
re-reading
old words
completed poems
even some not yet posted
and i think
that’s a great way
to spend
an end-of-year day
today—
don’t you?
~~~
dance around the room
calm the over-excited pup
listen to worded and non-worded music
read words about naps
and contemplate them, too
morning. here.
poor injured puppy
(i didn’t even know dogs could get
ACL tears)
(i mean, that’s not technically the diagnosis
but that’s essentially what it is
when compared with
human injuries)
and it’s common
and it’s [most likely] not going to need surgery
(knock on wood)
but
it’s so tough seeing puppies in pain
and it’s so tough when we just had our old dog
do so many procedures and things
and we just want our puppy to be able to
have the zoomies
run around
be a puppy
but
she is stuck
in puppy jail
for her own
good
how do you
become at peace
with the fact
that you will never be doing enough?
i don’t know
but i think
that’s how to approach
anti-racism
anti-white-supremacy
anti-any-hate
in a sustainable way
(because otherwise
the sides of the coin
are performative
or overwhelmed catatonia
and neither
actually provide
results
or action)
~~~
there really is a comfort
to having a canine
use your leg
as a pillow
to prop up
their heavy heavy chin
~~~
when i pet my pets
the studies run through my head
of how this act helps the serotonin levels
in humans’ (and dogs’) brains
but i know my serotonin
or the transmitters that run it along
aren’t working at their full strength
so i often think to myself
“ok, here we go, serotonin, you can do it!!!”
just to help it
a bit
sometimes we need
store-bought chemicals
and sometimes we need
our own cheering squad
and sometimes we need
both
and that shouldn’t be looked down upon
the puppy
has lost
her ball
probably
under
the coffee
table
perhaps whining at us
and barking at it
will make its
return
hasten
(it worked
because
i’m
a pushover)
]
\[;’
;Po
[this poem is from the puppy
by way of her favorite
red tennis ball]
puppies up
Kips awake
cats a-hassling
a morning
a day
here in our
little haunted home
the puppy
plays with her ball
not a care in the world
meanwhile
the cat
cares deeply
about the food
that has yet to be
hand-delivered
to her
kipventures 