He was old. That much was evident.
Although, unlike tree rings, the rings on his
tail gave nothing away.
He sauntered from the side yard, moving leisurely
one might almost say lethargically,
he seemed in no particular hurry.
Ambling across the road, his sights far away
he moved steadily, albeit slowly
toward an unseen goal.
Some neighbor got the wind up
and called animal control –
talk of rabies went round in whispers.
He wasn’t rabid; just old. His course was straight.
Slowly walking to a final destination.
His preferred place to die.
— Virginia Barrie
Barrie is a local actor, director and writer. She has the pleasure of heading up the Senior Poetry Group based at Lawrence Library.
