Sometimes it’s better to look an ugly thing in the eye
and call it your dog than to act all it ain’t mine
or act all this dog is a wolf when the dog
is more a hamster
or act all this dog is transformed by my love
when the dog remains ugly.
Let it be your ugly dog.
Make fun of it.
But feed it the biggest, leanest lamb cuts
mixed with brown rice softened in broth.
And when your neighbor’s pitbull picks up
your patchy, fawning, delicate dog
crosswise in its mouth
like a bear lifting a big fish,
shoot that mean, wrong,
asshole of a neighbor’s dog
kersmack between the shoulders
and pry your dog free.
