lawyered up

lawyered up
my
dog
appears before the court
pleading
not guilty
of all charges.
he's washed and clean,
his nails trimmed,
his teeth bright and white,
which I can tell when
he snarls at me
across the courtroom.
he shakes his head
at the bevy
of evidence that has
been presented.
the chewed
sunglasses,
the ripped pants,
the leg of a chair,
the cushion,
the window sill,
the rug where he
sunned himself
thread bare
and torn.
a wad of money shredded
and eaten
then spit up into a green
presidential ball.
he raises his paw
to be sworn in and
gives me a look.
growls and bares
his teeth.
i'm in trouble, deep
trouble
if he gets out of
this and comes
home.