Old Dog, Young Dog, Passing

Be still, my heart!

I was walking, relaxed, across the lawn to the curb

to put a last kitchen bag into the trash can

before the big green truck came to claim what we refused.

She nudged me from the side: an Alaskan husky!

Not a sound, just a nudge and a bump on my leg,

expecting that I would be as happy to see her

as she was to see me, knowing I wanted to pet her.

I bent, and she nuzzled my ear,

while I tried not to let surprise and first fear

interfere with two strangers meeting.

"Enough!" she said, and charged down and around,

intent on bringing life to a quiet neighborhood.

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