two large dogs bark & growl

with proprietary, ferocious intent

an invisible fence keeps them at bay

our Coco gives each one barely a glance

as we continue on our merry way

counter-swipes, long cavalcade of weary sighs

tattered Nikes stickied to grungy-brown floor tiles,

streaked & grimed with street debris, society’s refuse

she sweeps away the crunch of discarded breakfasts —

crumbly mango-oatmeal-raisin, jellied toast

biscuit smatterings of cinnamon, brown sugar & nutmeg

the promise of a few deep drags at 1:15,

sole enticements to endure another dreary morning

fresh air &

vitamin D

but that wind —

so raw, brisk

& bitterly cold

hidden rabbit

scurries from wintering spirea

little one, I mean no harm!

water starts to churn inside the mike

I wait for those boiling bubbles

my mug sits on the counter, ready to go

I just need to decide:  no-calorie tea

or the yum of chanilla* chai?

---

* My own creation, a mixture of Big Train chocolate and vanilla!

puppy at rest

the curvature of his body

those sweet little legs

poisonous arrows

deflections of who

we might best become

violent swirls

of snow

on frigid

winter pavement

I dream

of the yawning

tedium

of democracy