the owner of a dog
loves his dog.

he gives him a name.

he feeds him
and waters him
plays with him
protects him
defends him.

but still
a dog
is nothing more
than
a dog.

Image credit:Jordan Davis

Cheryl Leverette—the pen name of Cheryl Ann Dodd—was a prolific poet who drew much inspiration from the company of other writers and artists online. She died on May 27, 2019. The rest of her inspiration came from her family. For her author bio on Open Arts Forum, she wrote, "I'm a grandmother living in Tennessee, enjoying my family and semi-retirement. I love writing and poetry as a hobby and also as a learning experience. It keeps me sharp."