Cerberus

Death moved in next door
Before the sale sign went up.
 
He took over the neighbor’s house
Chased the aging husband and grieving wife.
 
I didn’t see him creep under our fence
Till I spotted the spotted dark dog of him
 
Reclining under our fig tree. He sauntered
Up through the veggie garden,
 
Along the kitchen windowsill,
Before I could chase him away.
 
When I ran out with a baseball bat,
He slinked in through the garage door,
 
Slithered up the stairs,
Sat at the head of my daughter’s bed,
 
Lounged on her long golden hair,
Drooled over her lush lashes,
 
Licked her rosy cheeks,
Gnawed her earlobes.
 
Out, Dark Dog, Out!
I swung at his gnarled, twisted head.
 
Out, Dark Dog, Out!
I swung at his laughing teeth and moth-rotten ears.
 
Out, Dark Dog, Out!
I swung and swung and swung
 
And missed.