Hal Sirowitz

 

Twenty Cents a Minute

 

When the party

was nearing its end -

time to go home - I

offered to accompany her.

I thought it was a smart move

on my part until I discovered

she didn't know where she

lived. She fell asleep

in my arms. I couldn't

feel romantic because

the taxi meter was ticking.

I was being charged for each hug.

*** 

 

Barking Dog

 

The neighbor who lives at the end

of my block has threatened to shoot

my dog on more than one occasion.

I don't know whether I should take

him seriously or not. "I've shot

varmints before," he says. I haven't

seen him with a gun yet. So I guess

we're safe. It started with my dog

barking at him raking the leaves.

He got upset, took it personally.

My dog doesn't mean anything

nasty by it. It's just the way she

reacts to most people. She's saying,

"I'm a tough hombre. Listen to me bark.

I can reach upper levels of sound."  

***

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