what my dog knows

the sun rose today.

cast shadows long on the floor that

grew into warm spots for

her to sit in.

the air fills her lungs, her little puffs

of pleasure and frustration,

the hot cloud of our

exhalation

that leads us down the trail.

there are ducks on the stream.

they float by twos

watching with wings untucked.

a lone coyote

in the meadow, concealed by

the pale color of the grass around it.

a rabbit carcass it discarded

there in the fold of the hill.

my dog's ears prick with warning

and i grip her leash

and grow taller against the

mountainside.

on we walk.