*

Keith Tornheim, a biochemistry professor at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, has six recent books, The Sacrifice of Isaac; I Am Lilith, Dancer on the Wind; Spirit Boat: Poems of Crossing Over; Can You Say Kaddish for the Living?; Fireflies; Spoiled Fruit: Adam and Eve in Eden and Beyond. His poems have appeared in Ibbetson Street, The Somerville Times, Boston Literary Magazine, Muddy River Poetry Review and Poetica.

Keith Tornheim

Canine Communications

A human and his shepherd,
German or otherwise,
proceeded slowly up the sidewalk,
the one having to pause and stand around
while the other lifted a leg
to water that bush or that pole,
even a fire hydrant.
Another pair came running
up the other side of the street,
and that dog barked a greeting:
“My human’s in a hurry,
I can’t stop now for a sniff and chat.
So further up the block at the next tree,
pmail me.”

— Keith Tornheim

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