The Dog
by Allison Croft
Lipscomb University
Allison Croft is a student at Lipscomb University, studying English Education and working as a middle school writing teacher. When not in the classroom, she can be found reading, making coffee, or sitting in the sun. Her work is featured in Waymark Literary Magazine. While raised as a third-culture kid, Allison now resides in Nashville with her shih-poo, Britain.
A wet-nosed palm reader
Pushing conkers from my fingers
A sand-sticky poppy flower
Running the beach during baptism
Where is God
If not braided in its bones?
A puppy-faced innocence
While airing teeth at their hands
But now all belly-up with breath and
Minding from my girlhood bed
Where is God then
When the collar is enclosed?
If not even the dog
That bit and bled against strange skin
Hunts the shadow
Who sits upon my chest
Where is God
To turn me feral-foamed?