Doggies & Lasagna

Cooper?  Yeah, he’s still spastic 
a whirling dervish devil dog 
of twisting gyrations and huffy drama breath 
he greets me every time I come home 
with the same gung-ho reckless fervor 
even if I am that asshole who occasionally yells at him 
and not that special lady Mama 
who lovingly forgave his every puppy transgression 
 
And Lucas? He still trembles 
at the slightest rumble of thunder 4 counties over 
yet barks like a ferocious gladiator at the chihuahua next door 
that he can see through the hole that he gnawed in the fence 
every time he wanders through the house, though 
checking every corner of every room 
looking for your sparkle and listening for your laughter 
there is sadder resignation in his eyes 
 
And me? I’m still hanging on 
sometimes, if only by a willowy thread 
the affairs are all in order and I've nurtured Audrey the best I can 
which as you might well imagine is woefully insufficient 
and I pay bills, and I do laundry, and I shop; but I still can’t cook 
so I am looking at the same piece of frozen lasagna I have looked at a 100 times 
meticulously wrapped in aluminum foil since the last time you made it 
I couldn’t bring myself to eat it even when my tummy growled 
but tonight I think I will 
 


Bryans Road, Maryland 
7/20/2020