she’s a pathetic puppy
fetching a phantom stick
returning to you again and again
tail wagging, forever panting
hoping the next toss will be fruitful
yet she falls for the same tired trick:
your hand is empty
she keeps you company
occupied, busy
warm
licking your wounds
while you stagnate in grief
you adore her
appreciate her
scratch behind her ears
but to you she’s only a pet,
a project
she longs for an equal
to exchange hearts, hunt treasure
chase dragonflies
she dares to dream that you are the one
capable, compatible, comfortable
considers showing you the spot
where she buries her bones
but you are unreachable
unyielding
so she returns to her corner
curling into herself,
head on her paws,
sighing,
a dog.
fetching a phantom stick
returning to you again and again
tail wagging, forever panting
hoping the next toss will be fruitful
yet she falls for the same tired trick:
your hand is empty
she keeps you company
occupied, busy
warm
licking your wounds
while you stagnate in grief
you adore her
appreciate her
scratch behind her ears
but to you she’s only a pet,
a project
she longs for an equal
to exchange hearts, hunt treasure
chase dragonflies
she dares to dream that you are the one
capable, compatible, comfortable
considers showing you the spot
where she buries her bones
but you are unreachable
unyielding
so she returns to her corner
curling into herself,
head on her paws,
sighing,
a dog.