Scent of Wet Dog - Jan. 2, 2026

scent of wet dog

halfway home, the weather

has a wardrobe change, clouds

remove their loungewear, slip on

rain-tapping dance shoes

causing the dogs to adjust

to a head down purpose,

leaning forward

and a quickened pace

fur shrinks as it mats

wet wavy curls drip

Oliver’s freckles peek

from his pink skin

in the house, a pungent musk

like damp leather but more feral

a smell of wild, a scented

connection, fragrant throwback

the odor of wet wolf

and as they madly rub bodies

on the carpet, flipflop and                                          

nose pillows off the sofa,

one pauses, looks at me

suddenly, like I was prey