“Stay”

I could not tell: alive or dead.
Did my eyes un-believe: dog or rag-doll.
My heart prepare, I could not. I believed
my own story: he was lazy or, still-asleep
when I called his name

I would not remember the air of frustration
I let out because he would not listen.
Or, his going-out ritual: three clinks
of the leash, two wet-sneezes, a moment on
his hind-legs. Then, he was ready—

Bittencourt is a senior majoring in English with a concentration in British Literature at Florida Atlantic University. One of her poems, “Little Drummer Girl,” can be found in the Spring 2019 Issue of FAU’s literary Magazine Coastline. And her other work, “Hotel Room Service,” can be found online at http://www.thevoicesproject.org/poetry-library/hotel-room-service-by-bittencourt.