Taro Refuses to Bark

This is for Mikeydred's July prompt.

Dogs teach us many things--including pausing before taking action.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

Under July's radiant sun,

She turns belly-up on the grass;

Then stands, eyes fixed, on a bird she sees

Catching worms.

She does not move. She does not lunge.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

The bird flies off to an empty field.

Taro lies in the grass instead.

They shake their heads, she won't run,

But stares at the bird with joy.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

A truck rolls around the corner,

Not filled with meat slabs.

Taro doesn't budge.

She knows their aroma.

The scent that invites.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

When the truck finally leaves

Leaving her alone, quiet--

Taro stands.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

A man scales the wall.

Hooded, jacket black.

A window breaks.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

Taro's tail stiffens. She waits.

She stands guard, poised,

To move in

Her run quick

Steps measured.

🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕 🤍 🐾 🐶 🤍 🦴 🐕

Original poem by Michelle Liew. AI tags are coincidental.