An Australian Christmas
Carol
used to it, he is –
dog before the man
I
like your dog,
they say
today the black lab wears a
necklet
of silver tinsel and a bell
below inquiring eyes
I want to stroke the silken
nose
but say instead
looks
like your dog's
ready
for Christmas –
he doesn't flinch
who's
that,
he
says
he's tall, assured, a man of
the land
I guess he's known its
hardness
you
don't know me,
I
blunder
well
I do now ‒
I'm
Ross and this is Harry
he puts out his right hand
I drop my shopping
take it, warm and confident
okay with the world;
shaking seasons greetings into
mine
somebody yells
hi
Ross
hi
Harry
and he answers with a name
he won't forget we met . . .
then they're off
to buy a gift for his grandson
dog leading man,
disappearing in the crowd
of trash n' treasure vendors
selling Christmas
he doesn't have to wonder
where
he's going –
he's following his star
Hazel Hall
First
published in Kelen, Kit and Page, Geoff (Eds.), 2014, The
House Is Not Quiet And The World Is Not Calm.
Page 44.
