Rescue Dog
Kelly Fordon
​
The rescue dog in her new red sweater
cowers underneath the sofa. It could be
months before she ventures out—or never---
they tell us. My husband calls her
dummy dog in jest, but it bothers me.

To be trodden on and/or ignored, to cower
in the bathtub or hide underneath the bed.
There is a fellow feeling. Sometimes when
we are walking, I reach down and she startles.
She’s waiting for the slap.

I know how that goes too.