our dog’s self-assigned job
before all else
is to defend his territory
which is wherever he is
and wherever we are
especially when where he is
and where we are is our house
and everything he can see
out its front and back windows
whenever foxy loxy saunters through the yard
all cavalier and carefree
Mookie goes BANANAS
first his barking spikes our heart rates
then he attacks the back door
making us all jump
then feel angry
in spite of ourselves
he takes his job more seriously
than some police officers
whose duty is also to protect
we could cancel our house alarm
we should award him a medal of valor
instead we close the door
trying to remove the visual reminder
that his enemy has free reign
over his domain
while he's locked up inside
the justice system is corrupt
