man's best friend

i'm taking an extended holiday,

which may

go longer

than expected.

i pack

the enormous

blue suitcase

and wheel it to the door.

i look around

for what i might be

forgetting.

but nothing comes to mind.

the plants are on their

own.

the dog too, the wife,

the children,

the mother-in-law

up in her attic room.

i'll call when i get there,

i yell from the hall,

before going out the door,

but there's no response.

everyone is busy staring

into their phones.

there's just a low growl from

the worried dog.