Puppy

by fenix

i remember you
lurking in the alley
only your eyes showed
gleaming and desperately lonely
all cribbed up with it
like a kicked puppy
i remembered that feeling
deep bruise not yet healed
thought to be kinder than
the boot wearing bastards
i'd met along the way
sitting here now
cradling my ribs
feeling rather foolish for it
a turn in circumstance
and a kick on the backstroke
still hurts as much as one
given full frontal
abandoned the moment
a pretty, prissy poodle appears
i forgot that i wasn't supposed to care
but then, i always do
i sit and shiver and wonder
when the door will open
when there might be a scrap for me
i laugh at myself
sitting very still so i won't whimper
tail between my legs, head down
like a good puppy should be
or so i hear