Narrow Flame Poem by Linda Gregerson

Sun at the zenith. Greening
earth.
Slight buckling of the left

hind leg. And all this while
the girl
at his ear good boy and now

the hip giving way and mildly as
was ever
his wont the lovely

heft of him lists toward the field
that minutes
ago was still so sweet for

grazing and good boy and on the
ground
now where the frightening

last shudder of lungs that we've been
warned about
does thank you darling does

not come and feeling for a pulse
no pulse
and warning us touching

the liquid eye which does not
close which
means the slender needle with

its toxic everlastingness has done
its job
good boy unbuckling the

halter lifting the beautiful head
to her
lap and all this while the girl