a good dog

the old
dog on the floor.
runny eyes, and tired.
hardly hears
the door bell anymore.
she smells
like
the yard, the woods.
her bark
a whispered growl.
the tail
is unwagging, she limps
to her bowl.
the tongue
set still. she's a good
dog.
a fine
piece of God's work,
about to run
free
in a long sweet field
of grass.