"In Service" : Obedience -- Not Wanted

Editor's Note: Writers were asked to respond to the theme of "service' as part of Studio B Art Gallery's "In Service" project sponsored by a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation.

by John Yamrus*

in dog obedience class…

for once,

my little Abby

did everything right.

for

once,

she didn’t

bite, jump or pull.

this time

she paid attention

and sat

and stayed

and came

and listened…

just like all the other dogs.

i can’t tell you how much

i hated

that.

* John Yamrus is widely recognized as master of minimalism and the neo-noir in modern poetry. In a career spanning more than 50 years as a working writer, he has had nearly 4,000 poems published in books, magazines and anthologies around the world. His writing is often taught in college and university courses. Three of his more than 40 books have been published in translation. Fittingly, the 75 year old’s newest book is a volume of his signature minimalist poetry called AIN’T DONE YET.

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