"Alabama Pits"
by Kelly Dean Jolley
by Kelly Dean Jolley
Weedowee
Alabama. Pit Bulls
anchored fast to prone barrels
up and down sides of the
hollow
Remarkable
dogs. Capable
of a canine podvig
left untutored in a canine
Gulag
Brindle
coats. Red
and chocolate
but left outside as
livestock
Killers
no. Rather
gladiators unfazed by
being governesses for
children
We
upright. Sires
and bitches two-legged
confuse the flesh with the
body
Fighting
flesh. We crucify
body and think we are
purifying ourselves of deep
sins
These
dogs. Southern
hounds bear
wounds teeth-carved in
hide
Body, Flesh, Blood: We require them to live and die
by Cajun rules but we will not do the same.
Queequeg, remember, Queequeg dies game. So said Pip.
And it’s a mutual, joint-stock world in all meridians
These dogs could help us men
Little
child. And dog in
a bridegroom embrace
both smiling
Scratch
unanswered. Starved
and broken between
reddened plywood
walls
We
despise. Gameness
embarrasses us and
strands us in
cowardice
So we fear these dogs
Copyright © 2009 Kelly Dean Jolley
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