[Diablo]

I always knew you were a son of a bitch.
The runt of the litter looking up to his bigger brother and whimpering,
hungry for dinner,
stood there with pitiful eyes and nothing to give.
I took you under my limb because you were different —
yet treated you the same as the rest.
I gave you a leg up, made you feel welcome, I gained you a friend.
I ate with you every night, saved you my leftovers, even let you lay on my bed.
You could stay without question. If it was mine, it was yours,
in every fight I was always there at your side through it all.
In my eyes you were more than just one of my friends
our bond was inseparable, we were dogs til the end.
While you followed, I led, and us two had a pact
with me watching ahead thinking you had my back.
There were rumours of wagging tongues. I know how people can be
so I never really believed them, but I kept my ears to the street.
Maybe I needed to keep you on a shorter leash in my company
You had no reason to be fearful of me —
but that didn’t mean that you shouldn’t be.
You would keep up the brotherly act but must have known I could sense it,
the growing resentment over a senseless bone of contention.
I wouldn’t just roll over and let it happen while having done nothing to you
You were looking to prove yourself, but this canine’s too long in the tooth.
I shouldn’t have viewed us as equals. The alpha male should lead ahead
now your betrayal will leave you left with your tail between your legs.
My ageing teeth were clenched beneath the reddened jowls of my jaw
I place my weary head down by my paws so as to not pronounce them at all.
We have an hour before walkies. I pretend to sleep on my own
and leave him to go and eat from my bowl, thinking he’s in control.
I hear every soul sapping slurp he can squeeze in his stomach
as the flea-bitten glutton greedily tucks in and leaves me with nothing.
While he feeds his compulsion,
I lie in wait with my thoughts instead,
until hearing the footsteps of our owner at the porch again.
I brought my legs up to my waist before bounding toward our guest
The door lock trembled, it’s key turning as slowly as your former friend.
I force my head in the owners hands first, glowing with pride,
‘cause though you still might be considered mans best friend —
You’re no longer mine.
When our owner invites us to play ball, I run every which way,
but you’re not interested in games your stomachs now too heavy to play.
I steal the attention you’re craving. You’re too dog tired to perform
while I’ve both eyes out on stalks when it’s time for our walk.
You’ve digested all of our food, making this as easy as ‘Fetch,’
since we both know he really detests having to clean up your mess.
Your ears are now pressed back firmly as our human finds somewhere we can park.
Before we even step out the car, you realise your territory’s marked.
I’m left to run far out of view as our owner gestures his arms
then I let out a bark to create a false sense of alarm.
The human yells at you, snarling your cretinous name at the double
and you’re sent to come charging after me in case I’m in trouble.
I see your face in the puddles surface stood their before us
It’s ugliness forms a moment of reflection
on how we were before you muddied the waters.
I look at my former friend with distrust. My wry smile becoming a scowl
before I jump at you mouth wide open, teeth exposed by my guttural growl.
I lunge at the coward with full force while I’ve got him off guard
the impact pushes him down beneath the wheel arch of an oncoming car.
I drop to the tarmac, head bowed, not so much in respect
but to inspect the lifeless body and ensure its come to an end.
I keep up the pretence by allowing a lowly howl to escape from my lips
as the car door sways on its hinges and our owner breaks from within.
The humans face looking inconsolable.
I bury my nose beneath the hem of his coat,
having his ever-faithful assistant waiting for him helps lessen the blow.
This was the end of the road.
Ironically that’s also where we had gone when we lost one.
I let his emotions subside,
before reclaiming my spot as the top dog.