The Labrador

by Jean Valentine

Crossing a fenced-off railroad track
holes in the fence
carrying a dog
my journey
I drop him
he’s heavy I can’t pick him up

he puts his foot in a trap
chained to the track a trap
yes but that dog
won’t chew his foot off
he’s barking at himself he won’t let
me near.
I left him.

From: 
Door in the Mountain: New & Collected Poems





Last updated March 18, 2023