Her Inner Wolf - Oct 20 2023

 

Her Inner Wolf

Oct 20 2023

When the dog barks non-stop

   —   protecting the homestead

from any would-be intruders

and territorial threats  —

is her exquisite nose

detecting anything real;

subtle hints

a poorly equipped human

is oblivious to?

Or does she bark

because it’s in her nature

and that’s what dogs do;

even at figments

of the imagination

lurking somewhere past the fence?

Perhaps the barking itself

is her raison d'être;

an assertion of her personhood,

a call to the world

that she is here?

As if Descartes had said

I bark therefore I am;

and so muted

she would vanish or retract,

an emasculated dog

tail between her legs.

But she is in fine form;

strutting excitedly

eyes bright and head high

delighted with herself.

Her inner wolf

fully expressed.

The neighbours, of course, object

and I can't say I’m thrilled.

So I shut her down

with a loud emphatic Quiet!

and she happily complies,

triumphantly wagging her tail

expecting to be praised.

Job one accomplished;

a good day's work

keeping us safe.

My heroic dog,

who, when sensing danger

scurries between my legs.

My apex predator

and lethal killing machine

   —  armed

with sharp teeth

powerful jaws

and knife-like claws   —

who takes refuge

with her protector

when even the cat next-door

snarls in her direction.

A fat old cat

who hasn't caught a mouse in years,

half-heartedly arching its back

and looking decidedly bored.