shoved behind the front lines
by others’ need for attention
she no longer receives the first
fingers when I arrive home
the other two dogs get those hands
with their greed and well-
muscled necks and torsos
she bounces aways
like a dust bunny to the edge
of inaction and stares at me
canine grannies get no sympathy
from fellow floor dwellers
if dogs had winter fires on cold nights
she’d lay beyond the first circle
shivering to stay warm
perhaps sneak in between two
of the larger snorers
to steal some heat
and fend off some of the chill
of loneliness
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