i can only guess as to when it actually happened
and its sad that i dont know the actual date
but i remember it being a few weeks before thanksgiving
the air had that scent of ripe apple and the leaves had turned a burnt copper
as they always do in that central new york air.
and i recall that pile of puppy breath all squirming about
in that home for the needy that my sister worked overnights
and i inspected the pile of fuzz
that i had pined to see
and came to this conclusion-
that none of those pups would be coming home with me.
and i was about to turn away and leave them where they lay
when from the bottom of that shiny black scrum
arose a little black nose attached to the sweetest puppy face
with oversized floppy ears that i immediately wanted to put into my mouth
and i knew right then and there...
so i picked up that tiny little girl
and stuck her beneath my coat just above my chest
her sweet little snout protruding into that fall air
and left with her.
and through all the bullshit that she has seen
and all the piles of shit that i have cleaned
i can honestly say
that nothing makes me happier
than seeing gaia smile.
happy approximate birthday baby.