One-Eyed Dog

I remember him all so vividly
like it was so recent
far fewer than the close to forty years ago
that it actually is
My grandfather bought me a membership
a membership in the YMCA,
I was in first, maybe second, grade
I’d walk the three blocks
from Abner Gibbs to the Y
But I’d be watching for him
wary, nervous, ill at ease
He was always there on Noble Street
like he wasn’t let in
scaring me, spooking me
One-eye of the beagle
stitched shut, long since healed
a blank space, light like that around it
a hollow sorrowful gap
haunting me, running away
to learn to swim, the get away
look for Grampa, in the boiler room
in the filter room at the Y


August 12, 2006 20:35


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.