Shelter Dog

I’ve made a home in the

Pink bedrooms left abandoned

Chewing on the hands of

Barbie dolls,

Sharpening my fangs.

My forehead is desperate for validation

Eyes closed and tongue lapping your words.

I tear up whatever I can get my paws on

And wonder why your thoughts of me have turned sour.

I begin to bark back whenever I see you,

I become used to running from the spray bottle-

Teeth bared.

I don’t know why biting has

come so casual to me in recent years

I must just be

A bad dog