hannibal the french poodle

you adopt a dog
from the pet store
and take him home.
it warms your heart
to rescue him. you
have bought him
a rubber ball.
he bites you.
he bites everyone
in the back of the
leg when they walk
away. he nips at
your hand when you
try to feed him,
he growls and bares
his sharpened teeth
at everyone, he
chases children,
and old people
down the street.
he has chewed
the wires to your
computer in half.
you call him hannibal
as you drive him
back to the pet
store with the rubber
ball stuffed in
his mouth, and
his wiry body
tied securely to
the roof of your car.
they have a no
return policy, but
you don't care.