his shadow on the couch

If I look slantwise
there he is, still poised,
my sleek Saluki,
paws crossed
elegant, aloof
unfailingly pleasant…

except for cats
squirrels, deer, and
jack rabbit those
he yearned to chase
and, I believe, to kill

yet, there was nothing
brutal about him
pure instinct
clean, direct,
innocent of motive
even matter of fact

at the beach free
to run amidst brethren
he always displayed
good manners
how did he know at
one hundred feet

the Jack Russell,
the size of a cat,
was not prey?
but he knew dog!
oh, the lift in his gait
those chic long legs
the length of his stride

my writing accomplice
he followed me into
my office took to his bed
yawned and snuggled in
if I look slantwise
his shadow curls there, too

2022 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—they may never turn into anything more or they might flower.