I Keep Zuzu

They gues-timated you might be 6 years old

When you were found on the streets of Southern

California. The doctors and dentists fixed you up

Then they sent you to be "rescued" here in Oregon.

I keep wondering what name you answered to.

But no matter what name I tried--Juanita? Chiquita?

You seemed satisfied with any of them. And my

Suggestion of "Zuzu" seemed fine with you.

I Keep comparing myself to whoever it was

Brought you up, trained you to "wait" when told,

Trained you to leave the table at a finger snap

So I'm not being watched while I eat dinner.

I keep worrying that I'm not as good as that

person who trained you to run to the bathroom

and stand next to the tub when you hear me say

"You're stinky. Wanna take a bath?"

I keep hoping your excited barking when you

Hear my car pull into the driveway is the same

level of thrill you felt when your former owner arrived.

Especially cuz you turn your back on me when I leave.

I keeping doubting that your refusal to crawl under the covers

With me is just your personality, not yet another rule

You were taught, and instead, your rejection of me may be

A pining in your sleep for your former owner.

I keep feeling pride at my 7 lb terrorist chasing the big

dogs down the street, and pity for Mojo, the Pit Bull, who

comes whining to me after you've snapped at her, because,

she just wants you to play tug-of-war with her.

And I keep being grateful for your devotion to me,

never venturing far on our walks through the park,

never complaining when we return to the car, even

though you would rather walk, and walk, and walk, and walk.

Naida Lavon

March 1, 2019

PCC Poetry Class

Angie Ebba Instructor

Assignment: Write an elegy for something

or someone you currently miss or will miss