Taro Refuses to Bark

Dogs teach us many things–including pausing before taking action.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

Under July’s radiant sun,
She turns belly-up on the grass;
Then stands, eyes fixed, on a bird she sees
Catching worms.
She does not move. She does not lunge.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

The bird flies off to an empty field.
Taro lies in the grass instead.
They shake their heads, she won’t run,
But stares at the bird with joy.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

A truck rolls around the corner,
Not filled with meat slabs.
Taro doesn’t budge.
She knows their aroma.
The scent that invites.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

When the truck finally leaves
Leaving her alone, quiet–
Taro stands.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

A man scales the wall.
Hooded, jacket black.
A window breaks.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

Taro’s tail stiffens. She waits.
She stands guard, poised,
To move in
Her run quick
Steps measured.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

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