My dog leaps into
a mellowing life.
Her leg buckles to surgery.
Too young to put down,
she breaks my heart,
a helpless creature,
beautiful big black
eyes, a forlorn quiz.
In my old age, I come alive
to pet and whisper
into her perked ears
why she now lives in a cage
unable to chase
her squirrel foes,
attack the garbage truck
at the back fence,
protect me from the neighbor dog.
In her convalescence
that will never make sense to her
she fills my limited lifetime
as if it will go on forever.
Originally published in Poetry On Postcards