he comes and goes as he pleases

it’s a mystery to me
what he does when
he’s not here

sometimes
he brings clues though

a lemon scent
a gleam in the eye
a flattening of fur

today it’s
a paper chain
strung around his neck

pink confetti
in his mouth and ears

were you at a party
or in a parade

i ask

he looks at me as if i’m nuts

(from Dog Series)
Seema Chopra

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