Lynn Glicklich Cohen

 

What Awaits

 

I sleep on the sofa

to be close to my dog

who has hurt her leg

and cannot take stairs.

We are practicing for

old age, when we will

spend our nights

wherever she is.

I fear it is the only

natural thing left in me—

this need to protect her

even as I know

at the end

it will be me who

summons the vet

and then her black

face with white muzzle

through the glass

as I come up the walk

will be gone

and for the first time

in awhile

I will sleep in my bed.