The Village Mongrels

The Village Mongrels
The wild dogs scowl at one
among a crowd. We don’t
know why they chose
this particular man.

Perhaps, it was his walk or
the way he looked askance. Perhaps,
the night breeze whistled
something into the wet air.

Still, we feel his fright,
the danger of becoming
fate’s lonely victim.
The old men laugh

at the mongrels’ pitiful
eyes, the man’s wayward
walk – sting of salt on the sea
air, an echo of hunger.

Donna J. Gelagotis Lee

This poem appeared first in Antithesis’ twentieth volume, published in 2010, for which the theme was Fear. Donna J. Gelagotis Lee’s book, On the Altar of Greece (Gival Press, 2006), has won several awards, including  the Gival Press Poetry Award and a Eric Hoffer Book Award. Learn more about Donna's writing on her website.

Image by Kitty DuKane, used with permission.