Dogs, I Wish You Well

kid’s sick and asleep
the robot vacuum seems confused
debated whether to put veg sausage in the spanikorizo
debated whether to never look at my cell phone again

hosing half-grapes off the rug
letting it sort itself out
i didn’t
i did

i used to skip the last word of the hymns
i wasn’t sure if i meant it
i didn’t want to give god the wrong impression
it was stupid of me, obviously

now i’m an adult
frog in a tank, a snail fall
mysterious shit
in the front yard

not enough chores and errands
not enough sunshine
not enough self-control
not enough empathy, patience, love

but this dog has long legs
and a long snout
and the vet says she’s good
at catching biscuits in the air

now when i’m tired i doodle angry dwarves i wouldn’t otherwise
when i’m depressed i repeat a mantra
that makes me laugh
when i’m not depressed

i have so many problems
but nothing that bad
my life’s pretty good
my life’s pretty good. i mean it

____
Zac Smith lives in Massachusetts.