Go Fetch

The only person who knew him
really didn’t know him that well
and probably never ever would.

This was a sore source
of endless frustration (unspoken)
to young Rover, a friendly type
who spent many a long hour
in the company of sticks
and too little time with bitches in heat

and too much with some strange creature
whose idea of frivolity
involved grabbing his canine head,
shaking it fiercely, until
the seemingly endless fascination
with his rehearsed barking
and tail-wagging extraordinary
ceased to bring cheap amusement

this allowed a tasty reward
which would bring forth contentment
knowing that he was oh so lucky,
that even if they didn’t know him

at least they knew his stomach