Meatballs

there is a dark place
on Milwaukee's
east side

a place where it rains
when it shouldn't

i met there
a man
that talks with a smile
about poetry

another
that is
garrulous
about Classic Rock
and guitars

otherwise
there are only dogs
at this
dark
rainy
place
on Milwaukee's east side

hounds that snarl if you come too close
if you try to pet them

territorial beasts
pissing
everywhere

i feed them meatballs
to keep them from tearing my throat out

when that doesn't work
i try to be the wolf

i howl to warn them away
but they don't go anywhere
and at the end of each night
i feel like the cat

outnumbered
and in a corner