You Gonna Have To Serve Somebody

And “Spaz” shows me how:

“Spaz” (Photo by Writer)

My 14-yr old Papillon is quite happy
to shiver outside —
as long as I am there
with her

ensconced on my front porch
like a monarch
before whom
she can frolic
and tremble
and — if the need arises
protect.

Like me
she needs a god:
a somebody beyond
her quivering nose,
her urine-marked territory,
her small
bone-impacted head.

Like me
she needs to tremble
tremble
tremble.