Tankas for the absent dogfor Honey

Two tankas for the absent dog
for Honey

1.
rabbit in backyard
startled by crunch of dry leaves
white tail shooting off
as I drop bag in trash pail
yard empty with her absence

2.
rabbit in backyard
sitting grazing undisturbed
no bark, no mad chase
rabbit in quiet darkness
a squatter in your absence

Update on Honey’s condition: As of this moment, she remains at the South Brunswick Animal Hospital, where she apparently ate a little bit this morning. Our veterinarian is unsure if that is a good sign or not and is hoping to entice her into eating by giving her a hamburger a bit later. Honey is not what anyone would consider picky about food — she’ll eat anything, including onions, paper, twigs, other items not worth mentioning, pretty much anything, really. We are hoping to hear something more at about noon, the question being whether she comes home, stays at SBAH or has to see a specialist.

I’m cautiously optimistic, but worried and confused.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet