Pariah Dog
this rangy dog
that you all assume
is homeless is actually
homeward bound
at the end of the night.
this pariah dog, known to me
only as ‘dog”
dog, sit
dog, lie down
dog, get away
dog, do you want to come into the garden
to sleep for in the sun for an hour?
deep in his day-time sleep
he walks dream-dark alleys
watching the rats
for signs of offal,
oil drenched coleslaw,
the gristly ends of
chicken wings
someone leaves in bags beside
the dumpster.
so easy to knock over,
so easy to rifle through,
so easy to carry home,
an alley treasure
to leave at my backdoor.
Published on The Laundry Line, 20 January, 2026.
