like she’s lived hard
a lifetime of labor
twelve-hour days plus overtime
her breath saws the silence
strips of sound that groan
like a painful mantra
alas it’s only the sounds
of my shih-poo Gracie
her soft lazy palette
tongue swollen from begging
throat fat from rich treats
the trio plays well together
or a small dog’s wistful song
ignored alone too-well behaved
the play for pity performed
each night in hopes of
a forbidden handout
to help fight tomorrow’s wars