Altruism

Bella jumps repeatedly

As though she is

Watching

Private sparkling

Explosions

So I let her out

To run around

The messy yard –

She is excited

And amazed,

Barking and playing

Finding, perhaps,

Moonlight in

Early spring

Afternoon

Urban expanse,

Running back in

My arms,

Now, carefully

Prancing

As if avoiding

Imaginary

Splintered glass

Then, she jumps

On my lap

To help me

Write this poem.

She slides to the

Living room

Daylight deep

In old windows

Greeting

A homeless man

Who sings

In the street.

She glides back

To the office

Nudging my arm

Asking me

To watch this man

Who makes

Eye contact

With me

And has a hunger

For understanding

So I trip

Down awkward steps

To give him money

Before he gets away –

Still singing

His thanks

He leaves,

And I hope

He gets Something to eat –

I suppose

My heart

Is a misty

Rose

Worrying about him,

But perhaps

There is

Holiness

In eating alone –

A Zen Sort of peace

To mask

Loneliness.

Thunderclouds

Rumble up

The horizon.

Thinking

Of the man,

I almost cry,

As though I have

Marble arms.