[photo by Maxim Marmur]
Kids, this poem is from last winter, when I came across this news story. I woke up this cold snowy morning thinking of these dogs, and all creatures who are trying to survive the winter outdoors (including many humans.) I thought I would post it again for our contemplation.
26,000 homeless dogs
roam the streets
of Moscow.
26,000 fur bundles
of love-
on-paws,
live hungry,
cold,
without shelter
in the freezing air.
Some are so smart
they know how
to ride the subway,
where the seats
are softer
than the frozen
concrete
streets
of the inner city,
and where for an hour
they share
some warmth
with the
human passengers.
Sometimes
they roam
together,
seeking
food and fellowship.
Hunger
is their
most constant
companion.
The city
planned
to send them
all to a gulag camp
outside the city.
Citizens protested,
knowing
they all would die,
and the news reports
ceased.
But keep an eye out
for sudden evacuations
by night.
No government bureau
is funded
to help
these most helpless
of
creatures.
A handful
of private citizens
do what they can.
The hungry dogs
of
an eternal winter
walk
the streets
of Moscow
with
questions
in their eyes,
and,
when they dream,
they dream
of spring.
