Everlove (Softly to Be Let In)

photo of card from our neighbor

This poem is about a dog,

you know the one,

the one who danced in the kitchen

with the kids after dinner;

the one who nibbled gently

on your shirtsleeve

when you played and scratched and loved him;

the one who howled happy,

and barked deep if asked to speak,

but softly to be let in;

the one who taught you more

than you taught him.

This poem is about a dog

who, with his final breaths,

looked you, each, in the face

one long, loving, last time.

© 2016 Jennifer Wagner

In Memory of Druke Wagner 2000-2016

Red Fox (to My Poems)

Vulpes vulpes, with your

little black nose,

your anxious eyes,

darting,

your den, under leaves

once red,

are ochre, burnt umber, and blowing away

in the air

of wet earth and maple smoke exhaled.

My palms,

holding ash

up to my fingertips, cool to the touch,

warm with a flame I cannot fan,

everything dying, like this.

But I’ll find you,

sometime October,

under the chestnut tree

wagging your tail,

Vulpes vulpes,

for me.

© 2016 Jennifer Wagner

It seems I am too busy for poetry right now.  But sometimes, she finds me.