D’s Bones

for my partner, Andrea

Roaring guard demons assault
my truck in the gravel driveway.
They leap and froth,
relentless walkway shitters,
midnight snarlers, minions
of my neighbor.

Lizard brained, I jerk to a halt,
throw open truck door, counterattack
with insane barks and growls.
Dark swirl joins me from the left.
Andrea, usually delicate and reserved,
in full Kali shriek, turns vicious
brutes to tail tucked curs. Teamed,
our many problems suspended,
we share a last harmonious howl,
then laugh and laugh and
laugh.

The neighbor’s dogs are a pain in the ass, but so are relationship problems. It’s nice to laugh every now and then.