The Big And Empty House... Poem by RIC BASTASA

when you arrive
from church in your usual
early morning
mass

the dogs of this house
meet you with all
bravura
wagging their tails
jumping and dancing
and there is one
the smallest of them all
which spins like
a top

i watch these things
happen and
i come to grips with
some reasons for
living

happiness takes its
form in so many shapes

one has simply to
discern from everyday
living

even from dancing dogs
and wagging tails
in a big and empty house.