I'm up
Too late to be late
Early early
Darker than midnight
.
I feed my insistent little monster
Meowing and swirling my ankles
I put her dish down
She purrs, eats
.
I glance out the window
no sign of dawn
.
And see
neighbor dog Duke
Leaping
Twirling
Airs above the ground
.
I stand transfixed
No explanation
For this canine ballet
.
And then
.
The streetlight hits some small object
And I see the old curmudgeon from next door
.
In a ballcap
Black jacket
Dark jeans
.
He lifts his arm
.
Whips a ball
Which Duke catches
Like a lucky outfielder
Triumphant
Incandescent
.
Silent fans go wild
.
I look at Bob
Cranky old Bob
Nodding and grinning
Transformed
.
You just never know
.












