(1979/88)

THE DOG

BARKING

        in the yard is not the whole

dog

         the dog is not the bark

         is not the yard

         I am not the

dog

barking

         I am not the yard there

         are not two dogs barking

         though there are many barks

a dog

         is more than some of his barks

a dog

         is more than all of his barks

         Mrs. Kelly hears the dog

         Bobby Snyder hears

the dog

barking

         in the yard

         in Bobby Snyder's head

         and mine

the dog

barking

         in the yard is

         Mrs. Kelly talking on the phone

the dog

         is Bobby Snyder shaving        

         is shaving cream and coffee

         is blood is red on white on terry cloth is air

         that wears the shape of dog

dog

         that howls down wires

dog

         biting Bobby Snyder on the chin

         startling coffee out of Mrs. Kelly's cup

dog   

         torn loose in bark

         from rope and yard

dog

         flung out of place

dog

         in time

dog

         in bone and eye

dog

         in pure

         observing eye

dog

         watching dog

         listening

             from the ear

                  within

                       the ear

                            within the listener

 

                   within