i had a dog once

i used to have a dog.
long
and fat,
just barely off
the ground,
smooth, the color
of chestnuts.
crazy as a loon.
his sister may have been
his mother.
maybe evil, i'm not sure,
smart
as a whip,
but a barker.
a chewer, a strange
beast, who barked at planes
in the sky,
who loved to watch
tv,
or eat glass,
or cans,
or bring rocks into
the house
that he would try to hide.
he was the Hannibal
lechter of dogs.
always into trouble.
he ate clothes,
hats,
gloves,
underwear,
shorts and bras.
belts, shoes.
he absolutely loved leather.
(who doesn't?)
computer wires.
his teeth were razor
sharp.
he couldn't be trusted.
he'd break out of cages,
gates,
fences
and run wild in the woods.
but at night
he'd curl up next
to you, exhausted from being bad,
give you a lick
and sleep like an angel.
he reminded me so
of someone else i once
had in my life. very similar
breed.