Somebody Else's Dog Poem by Jan Sand

We stand in line
Patiently hungry for money
At the ATM.
All black, he is,
Purple grapes for eyes.
Feathery tail in question arc.
I look at him.
He looks at me.
I look at him looking at me.
He looks at me looking at him.
He barks.
Nobody looks at him that way.
His owner tightens the leash.
I blink my eyes to make a dogsmile.
Not good enough.
His neck bristles.
His toes go tense.
He looks away, quickly back again.
His owner jerks the leash,
Inserts the card, takes the cash.
He and the dog walk away.
The dog looks back.
Some days you cannot make a friend.