What Is It Worth, a Dog's Life: A Triptych ~ Friday, November 7, 2025

These brown eyes observe changes at times strange
honestly, inside this head, distractions
empty bowls, food and water, eat and drink
simple needs, as I wait inside the grange
eager to please, to be fed, and to sleep

barking, I like to bark, their reactions
result in the dog house, left here to think
only, I cannot think, cannot look back
will they ever learn, must not make a peep
never will I not bark at the squirrel

except this behavior does me no good
yes, I cannot think, I will not quarrel
except I bark and growl and snarl, no food
save a field mouse or a stray cat, attack

---

observe the world from the head of a dog
brown eyes, expressive as an ape, old soul
silence is golden but my dog has mange
empty bowls teach him a lesson, the bog
remains to resolve all issues in life
versions of the truth, what is the prime goal
emptiness is loving-kindness, how strange

challenged people cannot see their own mind
how the teachings walk the edge of a knife
answer all the riddles, just roll the dice
nothing but pips, forty-two on two dies
given the answer, induction, suffice
each abstraction, to stay here, watching flies
simple needs, I know, my dog is not blind

---

ask and you will receive, we come to free
timelessness from his chains, is God a dog

time and again, we find neglect and harm
in this instance, malnutrition, you see
maybe this man lacks sense, what do we know
empty bowls, food and water, in a fog
save all the dogs, our goal, set the alarm

struggle to do no harm, no conflict, work
to help all sentient beings to grow
remain strong to fight the good fight, no wrong
angels as a metaphor, as a guide
nothing left to do but pull out the prong
given the suffering we face, no pride
each day, we work to help, pull out the cork

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