because my dog is odd.
At first, I thought
he was probably autistic
or maybe broken by abuse
from a previous owner
& then I read
that his breed is “aloof,”
a diagnosis
that better suits him
if indeed a dog
can be cool & distant
by birth.
Oh, he’s
not standoffish
with me, not anymore,
he needed to bond safely
with someone
& I needed to care
again for company.
What I meant about you
not being here
being a good thing
is not really what I meant
by a good thing.
What I mean is –
if you were here
& my dog
didn’t pay you
much attention
how I’d likely hear
“who he reminds you of.”
I don’t want either
of us to re-feel
those old feelings,
especially my not feeling safe
with you needing me.
