Companions

There’s one at either heel,
the left one panting silently,
the right as still.
One dog is always hungry,
the other knows me
too well.

If this is sunset, it stands
behind me, casting the triple
shadow: my hunched shoulders,
their watchful ears.
I don’t have to look behind
to know they’re there.

Night dissolves their shadow
into shadow. Through all
the hours, they’ll guard
my sleeping
path, they’ll keep my pace
tomorrow.

Taylor Graham

If you have any comments on this poem, Taylor Graham would be pleased to hear from you.