We Had a Dog Once
We had a dog once whom (?) my brother killed.
This little doggie should have lived a long,
Long time because she was so small. She filled
My mother’s heart with little warmths like song
Despite the high-pitched barking, barking (?) from
Chihuahua mouth. Her name was Sweetie Pie,
Her snout not that much smaller than my thumb.
Then something larger came around, more sly.
My mother had to go away for quite a while.
She asked my brother to take care of her.
It wasn’t all that big a task or trial.
My mother found her wrapped up in her fur
Inside the closet she had crawled in for
A nap. He accidentally closed the door.
~ Phillip Whidden