Batteries Not Included

[Philatone]

V. 3 cut down on some images


If the dog were less stubborn
he, too, would survive the rain

when we stay inside -
our rounds down to the stop sign
postponed like little else
in his routine.

I think the heap,
scratching the wood off
the door and howling, needs

an adapter to plug him into the wall,
remove for some company on the porch
and charge at night.

He could be left alone
all weekend without having to worry
about bathroom breaks
or how the house will change

with bite marks on the couch,
an odor in the bedroom
and a set of teeth at the door,
begging for an answer.




V. 2 thanks to dale and rob
S. 5 inverted
minor word changes

If the dog were less stubborn
he, too, would survive

hours of inattention,
a few days without a cup of food
rolled into a bowel,

a week of play
without the trouble of sleep

or guided tours of the block
with their pauses at the stop sign.

I think the heap nestled at my feet, panting
needs batteries,

an adapter to plug him into the wall,
remove for some company on the porch
and charge at night.

He could be left alone
all weekend without having to worry
about bathroom breaks, restless legs
or how the house will change

with bite marks on the couch,
an odor in the bedroom
and a set of teeth at the door,
begging for an answer.




note: thanks to billy, removed "the" from S. 4

batteries not included

If the dog were less stubborn
he, too, would survive

hours of inattention,
a few days without a cup of food
rolled into a bowel,

a week of play
without the trouble of sleep

or guided tours of the block
with their pauses at the stop sign.

I think we need batteries
for the heap nestled at my feet, panting;

an adapter to plug him into the wall,
remove for some company on the porch
and charge at night.

Sometimes, he could be left alone
all weekend without having to worry
about bathroom breaks, restless legs
and how the house will change

with bite marks on the couch,
an odor in the bedroom
and a set of teeth at the door,
begging for an answer.