Look at me, looking at you.

  i do this when i want to go out. i look at him. sit and look, sit and look. i get real close and put my chin on his knee. when he's asleep i breath on him, or shove my nose under his arm after drinking from the toilet.

  he'll say something like "Whuut", or " I'm not taking you out now! GO lay down.", and sometimes "Okay, let's go." but no matter what he says, it's going to be a while. so i lay down and look at him. he's pretty well trained, but not too smart.

  he keeps telling me i'm a dog, whatever that is. he says "Halftone", you're a 'fluff-butt', and 'stupid'. i cock my head, drop an ear and look real interested. i understand "Stick around" and "Out".

  but, what are "black-puppy-lips" ?

look at me, looking at you
learning to look, looking to learn
not yet knowing, questioned gaze
older, will i laugh at what i see
maybe give up seeing, why i laugh
losing truth to that scene, illusion
crumbling 'round me, to me say
look at me, looking at you

"Yes, dear."

by t.white ...

Look at me, looking at you.

"Yes, dear."

© January 30 1996

update: February 26 1996