10/02/25

you used to bark and bite and snarl and growl
you used to show your teeth and hiss at every dog that came near
until one came to tame you and left,
you trust shattered as you swore
you would never give it to anyone ever again
because that's what you do—
trust,
become loyal,
grovel at someone's feet desperately until they leave you.

but once again you broke that oath
there came a group, the kind of pack you sought, that drew you in
you stayed
they stayed
your loyalty chained to their ankles.
and once you thought you would be safe

they started biting
each other
gnawing at their legs as if they needed to get rid of something itchy
and you stood in the middle wondering which one you would follow like a dog on a leash
while they killed each other and cried to you for help

their hands cradled your face and their mouths kissed your forehead with a gentle voice
this seems so far away now
your loyalty clings to them all but you will have to give up,
in the end, you will have to choose.
you will have to bite back— to protect means to kill—
that's all you've ever been good for

attack dog