Breathing Room Poem by Jim Boone

</> How could he ignore
the boys next door?
If he did
they'd come and get him
and nobody would stop them
nobody.

In the beginning
they played 'moo-cows
at feeding time'
and he was the well-fed calf.

They looked at little books
kept hidden
under their bed
in a box
their daddy provided.

To see how it would feel
they tried
everything they saw
on little ole' guinea pig he
and he loved it
even with the pain
especially the attention.

He loved
the boys next door
and still thinks
of the men
who are there no more
how they opened windows
so he could feel the air
while they got off
and he got what he wanted
too soon
before they grew up
and turned away.

1950/1960