Decade Dog

By James Yarwood

For George

Today I killed
my ten-year Friend.


I found him in a cage
yowling for freedom.

He ruined my carpet--
he's why my bedroom
doesn't have a door.

He ate cancer
and opened a
crank window
without thumbs.

Conversationally
he'd been a Portuguese
Government Spy
and on tour with
Barry Manilow.

We joked
he was immortal.