we suspected a roving rodent
or perhaps a curious canine
had been silenced
and sauteed with ample portions
of garlic, olives and onions
then served on sparkling silver trays
as the special-of-the-day

the neighbor's pet chihuahua
had been missing for weeks,
and the chunk of cheddar cheese
in the wire trap
had turned blue

any master chef, we knew,
could easily slice and dice
a medley of meddlesome meats
into a savory stew
and patrons unsuspecting
at cafe de la rue
would lick their chops
and fingers too,
as if it were korean barbecue

the maitre d' flashed a toothy smile
and with a twinkle in his eye,
asked if the meats had met
our wildest expectations

"woof!"  we barked in unison
licking our paws
like stuffed cannibals of the caribbean

"I see you speak our language well." he quipped

"would you like some blue cheese for dessert?"

~ P