Herding Dogs

what power, their legs

as they push through the dirt of grassy hills

corralling their victims—no, their friends,

back to the homes they belong

hidden away from predators

once, these dogs were the predator

sinking teeth deep into supple flesh

those they now call friend

call neighbor

call a friendly stranger

a herding dog, a masterpiece

of something dangerous turned

sworn into knighthood

with sticky blood down

their mouth, their neck

of swords crossed

against bear

against fox

against Wolf

again and again and again and again and again and again and again

they fight to right the wrongs of their ancestors, their culture

how dedicated they are to be something they never were

what they grew to become

i hope in this day, this year

where the world around me falls and crumbles

more men and women will realize

the power in a herding dog

i hope they too can become knights

take sword to the throat

risk their strings and their blood

for a cause their ancestry once craved to destroy