What if the whole storm
was shifted into reverse?
The rain rising up into the clouds,
swelling, growing heaver
and turning hard out to sea.

*   *   *

The dog has been out
in the rain again, and
comes in bringing small
gifts of mud between her
toes and water from her
back to her chest and I
am here another night to
see this, her smile. I
dry her with a towel,
smelling the rain in her
coat. I am here, she
is tugging on the towel,
playing, and I would not
sell this for anything

*   *   *

My dog got into the garbage.

Opened the cabinet under the sink,
knocked the pail out into the floor
and gobbled the moldy old cheese.

Neat as you please.

My little emergencies.