That dog
She gave a feeling of false protection
l would let my seven-year old daughter play in our driveway
Each and everyday
As long as she didn’t go beyond our driveway
And no one would be brave enough to step
Remotely close towards her or our small white house
Because of our dog
lf anyone stepped one toe
Off the sidewalk line
Our big, ugly, black dog
Would growl
And bark her head off
And l would race to the window
Only to see a small boy running across the street
Other times l would sit and watch her
My small little girl
Playing with her pink and white volleyball
Not that she really knew how to play volleyball
Usually she would just toss it up and catch it
Toss it up again and catch it again, and again, and again
Sometimes l would hear the pound-tap-pound-tap-pound of
The volleyball hitting the ground and then slapping her hand
One day as she left the house with her pink and white volleyball
l decided to read a book in the living room
That day was the same as every other
Our dog was out still continually watching
l heard the familiar pound-tap-pound-tap-pound-tap
Then l didn’t
So l ran over to the window
But l was relieved to see the ball thrown up and falling back down
Over and over and over
That same day, l heard our dog barking
But l wasn’t concerned too much
She barked all the time at cars passing by
Or a leaf blowing in the wind
Or a frightened neighbor going for a walk
l glanced through the window when our dog barked
And l still saw the pink and white volleyball going up and down
So l returned to my book
lt had been a little over an hour and the sun was setting
l was about to call my beloved daughter in for supper
When l stepped out the door
l was horrified
My small child was in the center of the road
Chasing that wretched pink and white volleyball
The cars couldn’t see
And they were going so fast
That was the day
l witnessed my daughter’s death
l raced to the street
Knowing it was too late
l distinctly remember a car screeching
l heard her give a small gasp
Her last gasp
l ran to her side and slumped down next to her
Sprawled out body
So small on the hot pavement
l kissed her and brushed her blond hair out of her frail face
An ambulance came
But they came too late
l gave her one last kiss
And they took her on the ambulance
But l know when l gave her that last kiss
She opened her eyes and smiled