Man’s Best Friend

I sit addled by the confusion.
That dizziness that creeps from

the mind, ignores the sleeping soul, rests
upon shoulders. It crawls the skin, takes
my thoughts and movement hostage.

It brings me further

down

day
by
day.

Like a black dog tied to a dying crab apple tree,
the sun’s anger burning, flies disappear its ears and
eyes, ants cut off its paws, fleas

taking it all in.

Too weak to for suicidal daydreams,

wondering if
there’s still bite.

I watch the dog. It lies,
belly down, affection leaves
some food and water.
I don’t think it has a name, an

observed existence. I lay with the dog,
tied to the fading past,

we’re forgotten together.