shot off stump of a tail

somewhere in there

everything

everything that meant anything

anyway

had fallen through

I crawled back to her

shot off stump of a tail

between my legs

& somewhere in there

I begged her for another chance

just a couple more days…

she wasn’t fooled I wasn’t fooled

all I really needed was a roof over

until I caught my breath

she let me stay though through pity

while I licked my wounds

could stand straight again

& when my self-respect came back

I got the hell out of there

shame faced said thank you

went back out into the world

understanding a line

had been drawn deep in the mud

no matter what happened

how low I ever got

begging would never happen

again