By Dana
Date: 2007 Jan 26
Comment on this Work
[[2007.01.26.18.49.16803]]

Waiting In That Claustrophobic Box

He was always there.
Just laying there...
waiting. Waiting...
in that uncomfortable, grey
claustrophobic box.
Just waiting...
in that quiet, dark house
alone. So quiet that it
drives you insane.
Waiting...
for his day to start.
Waiting...
for us to come home from work.
He wanted to go outside
in the cool, dark night and play,
with us.
He wanted to run. He wanted to
run through the black yard.
He memorized the yard so well
that he could run through it
when it was pitch black and
miss every tree. He was so fast.
He ran so fast. He'd come back
inside and eat his dinner.
He was so hungry because
he'd been locked in that cage all day...
just waiting. I gave him his vitamin.
He loved to take his vitamin. I got him
to believe that it was a treat.
He'd sprawl out on the floor
and just relax. He was such a good dog.
A smart dog. He learned how to give
his paw in just five minutes.
We used to take him to a field
where deer lay. He loved to smell
all the different smells of the animals
that laid there. He loved to run
through that field. He ran with us.
He ran so fast, as if something
were chasing him. He loved to play
with us. He was so happy and
he was content with whatever
we wanted to do. He just wanted
to be with us. He loved us
so much. We loved him
more. More than anything.