my wolf dog was fickle
opinionated
a harsh judge of character
she did not like my cello playing
she did not like, or trust, people
she wouldn’t take
even a steak
from anyone but me

she did not bark, she spoke
with an impressive and expressive range of sounds

she had very sharp teeth
that she used to eat
domesticated animals
   expensive bird
   helpless kittens
very yummy snacks, she thought
though the bird was more than she bargained for
she swallowed it whole
and it was not small

she was not spayed
and would attract local dogs
howling in the dead of night, while she stood
regally
on the roof outside my window

when presumptuous people approached us
she would cringe against me, while on leash
quickly, I would say, don’t pet my dog...
they would freeze
with surprise and slight embarrassment
she protected me; I protected her and her
delicate sensibilities

she would never attack a person
but she threatened plenty
with her soft, controlled, purring snarl
she was convincing
all 45 lean, gorgeous pounds of her, and
her thick, shiny mane

she got me in a lot of trouble back then
I think of her often
I miss her like crazy
and still consider her
one of my closest friends
in this life