Black Dog Watching

[smokingboot]

It just appeared, so here it is.

Black dog in the light of evening
He was walking between the houses
Stars and streets built his shadow
No prints behind him in the snow.

I said, 'who do you hunt, brother?
Are you looking for me?'
Knowing full well if he was
I'd never have noticed him follow.

The winds of no compass answered
'Wake, sister out of the the half-light.
Does any of this seem familiar?
Don't pretend you are home or belonging.'

I looked at the houses around me
sleet tapping the numberless doors
No part of this place seemed familiar,
And none of it home or belonging.

So I found my old worn feathers
tucked under a lichened rock
And cried as the air took me up
into flight with the black dog watching.