ODE TO ZOLA

the first night
my dog was gone
I had a dream she
ran to me and she had
no skin – so I know

that he killed her – I know
that he did not
like her since she
barked and growled and
bit him when he tried to
first move in – when I

said he had to leave he
said I’d better watch my
dog but when I
finally got the
sheriff the dog
was gone – still I

leave her bowl
and water dish in its
kind, familiar place and
every day I watch
the water –
slow –
evaporate.

-Ryn Gargulinski, July 17, 2006