Flopsie

Hound dog ears on a rez dog body,

She had ears like dirty socks

Flopping in the wind, crossed

The River onto our farm

And Dad was none too happy.

I sneaked her table scraps.

She licked loneliness from my face.

She birthed her pups

In a river bank sandy depression.

I got real scared, like I said,

Dad was none too happy.

We loaded Flopsie and her four pups

Into the trunk of the Fairlane.

He made me come along and help.

Night. Twenty below. Dark

With only that thick blanket

Of stars to look, to see. Drove

South of Zurich, along Dead River Road,

Dumped my dog and her pups in the gravel

And drove home in silence.

No moon. Heater blasting.