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POODLE POEMS
ZAC SMITH


poodle poem

old, now, older and older
and even older
too old now to know her dog sister has died

or at least that's what we tell ourselves

deaf and blind, locked in a formless wander
when was the last time they snuggled
i don't know. i can't think about that

but maybe, since she sleeps all day
she dreams about her

and in those dreams they are both young
and alive

i know sometimes i have dreams like this
even now



poodle poem

it's weird to miss your poodle
when your poodle's still there

to move on before realizing it
maybe that's just how it always goes



poodle poem

i can hear her call for me
the pitiful howl:
haruuuruuuruuuruu

she is trapped
somewhere strange
again

let's go looking
for that poodle
again



Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 18.34.44



poodle poem

no longer a poodle
just a fish

swimming around the house
blind and slimy

when my kids meet dogs out on the town
they tell the dog owner about the fish

she used to be a dog
but now she's a fish

the people are always bewildered
until i explain

it feels like it will be a funny story
but it never is

they just look sad
which is kind of funny imo