Noy Holland

Alice

Let the rest play step
and fetch and shake and
kiss when bidden. Chew!
Do you?
I hawk and gobble, gone
over the bony field.
I belly flop, I clear the pond
of ducks and sticks and rubble,
dive. See? See?
Leggy me.
Off the bed!
In your house!
Out of the kitchen!
Really? Oh,
really? Oh, gimme
a ride in your ragtop I’ll
let you love my spotty tum.

—Alice