the odd sadness

the ambulance singing its

undulating song is flying by

someone’s worst day come to be

i feel an odd sadness 

not for the unknown patient

not for the worried family or concerned friends

i spare no thoughts for them

but for my little dog 

for years the song of the ambulance

the dissonance of the various announcements

the warbling of the rag and bone man

have raised her head and lifted her voice

but not today

today she barely glanced up from her warming bed

and my admonishment stopped in my throat 

a lump of a word half swallowed half spit up

a few moments pass the ambulance returns

is the sound of the siren more or less hopeful

i glance at her bed but she does not look up

but maybe a twitch of an ear betrays her

2/5/19

jeg.