PTSD

 

PTSD 

I know he’s having 

flashbacks when he draws near to 

lock eyes and seek love 

dog PTSD -

when he needs reassurance 

and won’t stop asking 

18 inches tall 

fierce as a mountain lion 

scared as a kitten 

two searching black eyes 

and a trembling paw that tills

a patch in my arm 

abandoned by his 

former owner, left to starve 

inside a duplex 

the day a landlord 

turned him in to the rescue 

we made him our own

knowing he would be 

a challenge with such issues 

knowing we’d love him 

this is what love is: 

dropping all else to show him 

that he now belongs