today i listened.

i listened to the story of a man who shot a dog

who had jumped a fence into his yard to attack his dog.

today i listened.

i listened to a story of a man who shot a dog

that belonged to the man who shot his dog.

today i listened,

to the grief of both men,

as they patted my head,

and told me what a good dog i am.

if only they could do the same for themselves,

and each other.