Poem for the End of October

trees unravel like soft sweaters
jack o’ lanterns hunker on every porch
the black wings of crows harvest the moon

In the Heaven of Animals, I hope you’re chasing rabbits and rats, sleeping on the big bed, eating your fill of yum yums, and getting belly rubs from God. RIP, Mo-minator.

Was He

lazy water flowing over the stone fountain
or was he the coin at the bottom of the pool
all copper and sunlight refracted burning
his image into the wet canvas
of your retina

reach into the water
the lines of your fingers break
beneath the surface        they appear to belong
to some one else        cool and pale
and restless        he is

smooth water closing        over
warm skin        he is        the clean and shining
coin        just out of reach
                                        the one wish
you would have made

Self-Portrait as Stray Dog

I am a mixed breed head like a cinder block
loyal and smart enough to learn
all your tricks

put your collar on
me tether the lead to the clothes line
you have my permission

I snap at the jabbering shadows
of squirrels as they sprint across
power lines phone lines

I dream you back home at dusk
pan of fresh water table scraps smell of your hair
warm length of your sleeping body next to mine

where have you been all day
what fences dug under trashcans toppled
what bitches tracked

tomorrow we stay inside
newspapers down talk radio on
I will show you how good it is

to be a dog