A yellow beast
lying on the floor,
curled
as though against a wind
stronger than she
blows through the kitchen,
slim white hairs
and pink belly
pressed
against
linoleum,
You rest
against the ruff
of her neck
where her heartbeats
thud and
skitter
chasing imaginary rabbits.
Leather the color of salmon
tossed by a tepid stream,
softness
worn through by touch
of hand and tooth,
nibbled
by youth,
rubbed by
affection,
Love
is a collar
around
the
neck
of a sleeping dog,
a circlet
of my promise;
you can
always
come back home.