The Dog Body of My Soul

 

Some days I feel
like a retriever
racing
back and forth
fetching the tired
old balls 
the universe
tosses me.

Some days

I'm on a leash

following

someone else's

route,

sensing

I'm supposed

to be grateful.

Some days

I'm waiting

in a darkened

house

bladder insistent

not knowing

when my people

will return.

But some days

I hurl myself

into the sweet

stinging surf,

race wildly back

and roll

in the sand's

warm welcome.

--Katherine Williams