Good Boy

you will not hear the children sing
or dance with them
guard their beds
and ease their sorrows

you will not sleep in the sun
or amble gently in the park
scratch at fleas
and bark at shadows

you will not run in the golden woods
or splash in cool waters
chase your tail
and make them laugh

they left you
behind
to die
and
like a good dog
you did

Pripyat – April 1992