The Greyhound

Dream, hare, run
Awake

Man comes, scent on the air
Into the yard
Shout, kick, shout, swear

Ears flat, tail tucked in
I lie flat, flat, flat
Pack leader shouts, man kicks hard
I lie flat, flat, flat

I used to run, run after the hare
Now I sit in the cold yard
Man looks, spits and stares
He comes to my corner and kicks hard

Hurt, hurt, hurt
I feel and smell fear
I used to run
After the hare

Broken ribs ache, legs shake
He kicks again and breaks my skin
The wolf inside me growls and snarls
I jump, I bite, sink my teeth in

Dogs shout and jump in the din
I can smell fear in him

Screams, shouts, kicks, noise
More mans come
Pain, sleep comes
Carried out into cold, clean van

Outside. Air, grass, wind
Van moves, legs shake
Sleep

Wake, sniff, dogs all around
Stand, sore, walk into compound
Dogs everywhere, bark HELLO HELLO HELLO
We sniff sniff sniff and show

Night comes, bed, blanket, warm
Man comes, meat tastes good
"Now you get some kip, Butch" he said
"And behave like a good boy should"

Ribs heal, pain goes, dogs everywhere
I play, I run, I bark, but there is no hare
Man comes, I wag, run, shout HELLO
"This is Butch, a happy little fellow"

"We rescued Butch and another 4 greyhounds
Pitiful it was, from what we're told it sounds
As if the trainer just abused them once they got old
Until Butch here bit him, so I'm told"

"So is he a biter?" Ladyman said
"Noooo, not since he's been here" man pats my head
"Good as gold, Butch is, I don't want to see him go"
I smile. Ladyman says "no"

"I want a little terrier" she says and walks off
Man pats me, says "good" I say "woof"
"What happened to the trainer?" says man with wife
"Hospital" laughs man. "And banned from training for life"

I run back to the grass and play
It is warm and sunny, it is a nice day

Bed soft and warm, nice
Wriggle into blanket, nice
Man pats my head, nice
Night comes

I can see the hare running
I run
Sleep