Shards of glass
litter the liquor-soaked floorboards
and cobwebs reveal
the slippery slope of neglect personified
in the corner,
a yelp.
a cry for help
the wind blows
from tattered windows
like a loving mother
cooling some soup
yet fear is still here
and outside doesn’t know
 
There’s a dog in the corner
And that dog is me
Kicked
Shoved
Forgotten on cold days.
Tender hugs
were never once felt
and accusatory screams
always drowned out the birds singing outside
like a sweet whisper hidden
by an explosion of hate
kind whispers
that always evaded this tired dog’s ears
 
There’s a dog in the corner
And that dog is me
Shackled
Chained
Weighed down
And in pain
Yet still waiting
For someone,
Something
To finally set me free
 
Oh how I want to run
I am this old place’s prisoner
Abandoned and empty
Just like me
 
The crunching of leaves
Tell me something is coming
I back up
Into the corner
Like so many times before
Scared
Trembling
Wanting to lunge
A hand reaches out!
Whose is it?
Attack
All I know
Is that anything can hurt me
Good and evil hands
Always look the same
Little did this dog know,
That hand
Outreached to me
Was help

It’s me