Old Dog

I scry the biscuits each night to see if you will live. House, star, fish, heart, bone Four every bedtime; five possible biscuit shapes And never two of the same for you, my darling friend. You’ve earned variety. Heart is good. Hope, my lionheart. House good too. Safe as houses. Star frightens me. There is a cling of cold infinity, of Huge black lonely distance but I tell you: see? You’re a star, baby. You are life itself. Fish? (Don’t think of silence.) A tuna, muscled lighting, hearty as horses Vigour, my love. Surprisingly, the bone’s not scary. For dogs, a bone is the best-case scenario. This means you’ll be strong as a bone I tell you and you smile at me. Time goes by and it becomes a spell. This bone will give you strength I whisper fiercely This star will give you power, this fish bring back your speed, this house protect you. This heart is my love for you. With a love this strong you cannot, cannot die.