DOG BREATH: 21 DAYS OF POETRY, DAY 21

BLIND 

The day we adapted Pixie, our blind Maltese,

the first things she did besides wiggle

was roll down the vinca slope 

in front of our house,

and then charge back up.

Never made that mistake again.

Later that day she took off after a goose,

straight into the artificial lake 

at the Kaufmann Foundation near our house.

Never got close to that two foot drop again.

Always ready to go, always learning,

that is our Pixie, bumping into life,

sometimes with a yelp.

It’s hard to see her ill and in pain

and know that it is getting to be that time.

We still need her to teach us blind faith—always will.