Melissa Allor

Poetry | Dog’s Life

Today I barked at mom.
I barked at mom so much,
I forced her to get up. 
She let me out. 

There was a squirrel
in the yard - in my yard. 
It didn’t belong there. 
This yard is for me and my brothers. 
This is our boundary, our life. 
How dare a squirrel 
infiltrate our home like that. 
It wasn’t to be stood for.
The squirrel had to go. 

I barked and ran at that squirrel 
so fast that it knew it couldn’t come back
at least not while I am guarding my yard.
 
I laid in the sun for awhile 
and ignored mom
when she called me in. 
I wasn’t ready. 
After she closed the door
I climbed the steps and scratched 
on the back door. 
She let me in
with a sigh.

My brother, Duke, is eating. 
He always gets to eat
out of the special bowl,
the one he likes to dump on the carpet,
I waited as long as I could
but Duke walked away
I ate his food
then I cleaned my long chin hairs
on the couch and carpet
rolling from side to side
wiping them everywhere

Mom always tells me to 
‘Clean my face.’

Today I barked at mom.