I’m so sweet I’m stupid

Tempted by a thousand lonely miles of dangerous pavement

of slouching streetlights

if not for this collar, I’d dig and wiggle under the fence

            and my dew claw would not touch the ground until

            my wet nose bumped your palm up to the top of my head

my chin on your thigh… sigh… close my eyes

but I can’t help but wag my tail when my captors come by

and the nights are filled with the howls of my friends and I.