Over the Lazy Dog

From periphery you dash,
rather queer-shaped,
for a cat.
Your gait too ragged,
coat too rugged,
tail too thick for that.

You are a dirty dog,
you are a wolf without
a pack.

Dark firelight drained from
rusty lamps and caught
your rusty back.

Then you scampered into shadow;

and your tattered form
collapsed,
into black.