Polo steps on a sticker burr
now she lying in the middle of the road, trying
to eat it out of her foot.
She is not as good at this as Clover.
I reach my hand to help. Polo pulls
away.
I reach again. Again she pulls away
makes a complete circle to avoid relief.
Finally, I grab her paw she pulls away
I hold on. The thorny ball
is lodged deep in the crevice of her pads.
whisk! Gone.
She runs from me black leash trailing
in my left hand I pick up Clover’s pink leash walk forward
Polo quickens her pace and I step
on her leash. Pick it up in my right hand.
“C’mon, Puppy,” I say. “Let’s go.”
