He’s got three legs.
I named him Lieutenant Dan,
the owner of the flower shoppe tells me.
And I want to salute
this golden retriever,
to thank him for his service,
to tell him how moved I am
that he didn’t give up.
He nudges his muzzle into my hand,
exposes his soft animal belly,
wiggles his spine
among fallen begonias and impatiens
and I rub his belly
until he smiles.  

                       -Marianne Peel