You Should Get A Rescue Dog

Boston Literary Magazine 2020

You Should Get a Rescue Dog

Paul Beckman

The dog’s name was Buttons

He was a lovable mutt

Who knew where he came from?

Or what baggage he was carrying, if any?

The daughters took Buttons for a walk in the park.

Both they and Buttons had fun playing in the colored leaves

floating down from the trees.

Through tears they said Buttons snarled

at a dog walker and her dogs;

broke loose, and bit the dogwalker, then ran off barking.

At dinner time Buttons came dashing in through the doggie-door,

Blood covered his mouth as he walked over to

his empty bowl and snarled.