PTSD
I know he’s having
flashbacks when he draws near to
lock eyes and seek love
dog PTSD –
when he needs reassurance
and won’t stop asking
18 inches tall
fierce as a mountain lion
scared as a kitten
two searching black eyes
and a trembling paw that tills
a patch in my arm
abandoned by his
former owner, left to starve
inside a duplex
the day a landlord
turned him in to the rescue
we made him our own
knowing he would be
a challenge with such issues
knowing we’d love him
this is what love is:
dropping all else to show him
that he now belongs
Common Threads 