Last night I dreamed dogs were giving a reading
in my living room—long-haired, handsome, golden
and chocolate, tea cup poodles, a mix or two—
panting, stacked on a loft, pouncing one at a time
onto center stage couch, poems wet in their teeth—
collies on edge, pugs in love, shepherds fierce
with loyalty, labs with their hot heads in my lap.
I was sitting with them, coaching, petting, biscuits
by my side, rewards for their poems (mostly about love!)
which astonished the audience—a miracle, so fresh,
original, they barked in iambic pentameter, singing
the blues these dogs were so damn cool we all wanted
to nibble their pink bellies, suck life into our tired souls.