other animals

I’d forgotten how much I felt 
for him pushed from bad to bad snagged 
by drama he can’t comprehend 
attacks he won’t defend against 
running to the old house the first 

time he escapes, the garland for 
his dusty fur from the gentle
girl of sorrows also to be
crushed beneath the wheels of children 

tossed away and won’t live with the 
wound and a clear night a forced march
and fireworks and more and finally all

alone, sniff the open air, bright 
sun, new friends, and no more burdens