the day was sunny and bright
I was sitting on the bank
of Bayou Lafourche
all was good
fine and dandy
life couldn't be better
life had never been better

then the shadows begin to appear
clinching the limbs of trees
which stretched out over the water
I could still see
the suns reflection on the bayou
made me think of heavenly choirs
as it shone
on top of lethargic water
ducks were congregating
where people threw food to them
and began to squawk loudly
then quickly took to the air

one lone she-dog
a mangy cur
threw her nose in the air and howled piteously
and, as she began to run toward me
the darkness
like black road tar engulfed us
raising the hackles on the cur
I felt something akin to an out-of-body experience
it left me with thoughts
strange, uncomprehending, meandering thoughts

this took place six weeks ago

the mangy cur
my one and only friend
looks at me
growls deeply, quietly, within herself
a growl of consternation

©September 17, 2012 / Jerry Pat Bolton