Wretched and putrid, it made its way across the alley, <br />Straight into a pile of synthetic filth and human garbage, <br />And as I continued on my way <br />It popped its head out and stared directly into my eyes. <br />Its pupils where dilated beyond normal size, <br />Squinting and then blowing back out of proportion. <br />Its mouth was frothing white foam from its corners, <br />Gradually opening to reveal green and yellow teeth. <br />Its nose contracted every so often as if sensing something, <br />Or maybe desperately trying to take in fresh air. <br />It was near death. And it sought an audience. <br />I reluctantly continued to stare into its face. <br />Pondering on why it had chosen me to watch it die <br />Wondering how we were connected. Where we indeed connected? <br />It was a shadow of itself, unrecognizable. <br />I did not know what to call it, so I refer to it as just that, it. <br />Its face was hairy with long whiskers, <br />And it had moved quite swiftly on all fours. <br />But it was not a dog. <br />Its eyes had glowed in the dark, <br />And it hid away in the shadows with grace. <br />But it was no cat. <br />It had a mighty build in its upper extremities, <br />And it appeared that it could stand upright. <br />But it was no monkey. <br />It baffled me. <br />There were no other forms of animals in the city. <br />My face echoed my inner turmoil with a perplexed contortion. <br />It noticed. <br />It was not discouraged by the puzzled look on my face. <br />In fact, it smiled. <br />It smiled a contented smile, the kind that one has to smile <br />After finally achieving something sought after for way too long. <br />It smiled sweetly, and its form seemed to return. <br />Or so I thought, for as its body seemed to straighten up <br />It collapsed back down, with three sharp cracks. <br />It was broken beyond repair. <br />It lay partially exposed from its hiding place of filth
