Paul Burgess

Your Broken Promise to my Niece and Her Dog

Her boxer, wearing colors from your school, 
Began his drunken kidney-beaning twist
And covered both your cheeks with loving drool 
To show how much your belly rubs were missed. 

She'd counted down the days of freshman year 
And told her panting Henry every day 
How soon the summer break would bring you here 
To cuddle after passing out from play. 

You promised Henry games of catch and throw 
and swore you'd visit near the end of fall. 
But surely, there's no way you didn't know 
You'd reach the dorm and place a breakup call. 

Now Henry's staring — head atilt, concerned —
At canine college sweaters being burned.

Paul Burgess is the sole proprietor of a business in Lexington, Kentucky that offers ESL classes in addition to English, Japanese, and Spanish-language translation and interpretation services. He has recently contributed work to Blue Unicorn, Light, The Orchards, Pulsebeat, Snakeskin, The Ekphrastic Review, and several other publications. https://paulburgesswritingandlanguage.blog/