HHHOUNDOUNDOUND

HAIKU

Reflections on the Human-Greyhound

Connection

TOM ZIMMERMAN

Baby talk, kibble crunch Oh brother! Nearing fifty, my wife’s a new mother Tipsy guests, distracted host Counter surfing Grab the rib roast Clank of her bowl, the first we bought her This peeing machine wants more water Fawns and blues and brindles Tans and reds and blacks Needle noses! Legs like spindles humans are stupid i wheedle, i plead: “gimme a treat, gimme a treat” finally, they get it! “ok, let’s repeat” Late-winter purple dawn Sniff-sniff, quick pee We’re moving on Uh-oh, no poop bag I bare-hand it Will later brag Learn from your greyhound That’s a start: Grace, flexibility, a very big heart

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zetataurus press ann arbor mi zetataurus@comcast.net ISBN-13: 978-0-9844641-3-5

Tom Zimmerman teaches English, directs the Writing Center, and edits three liter-ary magazines at Washtenaw Community College, in Ann Arbor, MI. He and Ann have been Scarlet’s parents since June 2009.

Copyright © 2011 by Tom Zimmerman

Photo credits: Author: front cover, pages 3 & 5, back cover (top); Ann Zimmerman: back cover (bottom)

Pamphlet designed by Tom Zimmerman on a Dell computer using Microsoft Publisher. Fonts used are Calibri and Impact.

This pamphlet is dedicated with much love to all the humans and hounds of GEM (GreytHounds of Eastern Michigan).

Crow-caw Dawn-rain sparkles On Scarlet’s dewclaw Evening walk Full moon a silver dish That never empties Wet nose noses my hand A kiss? Or some other demand? Thin thin line between death and play Nearly snagged a squirrel today We trot near a golf course Mid-swing, someone yells, “You could ride her like a horse!” Golden Retriever in the park Scarlet barks a rare big-dog bark Two years No diarrhea There is a God Egyptian pose Head erect Jackal-ghost somewhere in there Pink leash, pink collar, pink coat Tell the world, “i’m a girl!” Smiling or panting? Such teeth! But amber eyes enchanting Starry night, dog by my side Tears in my eyes, odd Is this God? Yes, yes, cold and snow But look at you You own more coats than I do!

Egyptian pose again Anubis! Jackal-head! You were reincarnated. . . when? I’m trimming chicken Slicing apples The breathing at my elbow quickens Deep chest, meaty hams, whiplash tail Why so shy? You’re not frail She’s got a boyfriend named Frankie But no hormones left for hanky-panky Even when you doze You’re sniffing poking probing With your needle nose Wife’s home from work Sets down the mail Yelp, then paw-thud . . . propeller tail!

i swear i’ll pee on every hydrant , pole, and tree here i go again. see? Deep in the throat of the night, coyote yips Scarlet’s ears prick Call of the wild three poops a day is all i ask picking them up: that’s your task Overbred or primitive? Un-doglike dog How long will you live? Scars in different places Trophies, badges, traces Almost-forgotten races Rocket silhouette Zero to forty in a second or less Our family pet Falsetto yelp, profundo woof, tornado-siren roo Such a panoply of sounds! Silent dogs, these greyhounds Make a wish: clank or thud or plop or trickle or swish of anything, any thing edible in my dish Asleep but twitching, dreaming A yelp: i’m losing my race—help! Long legs, big chest You’re a favorite with the fellas Their wives, you know, are jealous Yelp snort growl Play-bow play-bow play-bow What do you want now?

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