She Snores - Dec. 12, 2021

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