In the mornings,
I see happy people
walking after their dogs
with the light step
of a brand new day
green bag in hand,
dogs sniffing and joyfully
retracing familiar territories.

In the evening,
I see now weary people
walking after their dogs,
with slavish indifferent and
desire to be anywhere else
green bag in hand,
dogs sniffing and joyfully
retracing familiar territories.

It seems the dogs know
no difference, and along
with the green bags are
the only constants
in this observation.

Clearly the dogs have
better days than
their masters who
become their slaves
by each day’s end.