The ***** of a heedless king
drips down a chrome tire.
It smells, “MINE, SO BEWARE!”
His loyal pack sniffs about
the borders of the kingdom.

That tire drives through a strange land
halfway across the city, growling cars
and glowing yellow eyes that do not blink
threaten national security. Perked ears
show no fear! What nerve! The audacity!

A dog’s bark
possesses.
It is a war-cry,
a display of strength, defcon 3,
a campaign of awe and horror
where sleeping dogs discover
the wolves they came from.