Ellie Llewellyn Hudson
The pitter-patter of my paws across the hardwood floor
Signal my arrival at the front door to anyone willing to listen
Yet I am still met with silence.
Nobody is home, nobody has been home
For quite some time.
I do another circuit of the house
Tail wagging in anticipation
But alas, when I return to where I started
All is the same.
He is not here, and yet
I feel him pull my leash tight,
Dragging me towards the window
I jump through the glass with a deafening crash
And land with a dull thud.
Shards of glass
Poke deep into my skin
And draw blood,
Little jagged needles piercing the pads of my paws.
This is far worse
Than going to the vet.
But I need not worry about the vet any longer.
The air is still, the birds are singing,
And I look up and the roads are empty.
Kudzu creeps along the walls of every building.
Bones litter the sidewalks.
Mankind is dead and I am free to do
Whatever I want.
I arrive at the conclusion that the world has ended,
Despite having no concept
Of a greater world
Or endings in general.
The wind carries me forwards,
My leash having snapped long ago.
It trails behind me like a tiny cape
Fastened tight around my throat.
I feel the cool air on my fur
And I catch the scent of wildlife
Birds and squirrels and worms and wolves
And their scent carries me as well.
I am paralyzed by choice.
There is nobody to pull me along anymore!
And yet in turn,
Nobody to guide me.
I walk to the beach and watch the waves
Lap at the shore.
Blood from my muzzle –
Blood from all kinds of birds
And squirrels
And stray cats –
Drips onto the sand.
I think I start to miss him.
His hands petting my fur
And patting my head
And giving me food and water
And playing tug-of-war with me.
I am happy and I am free, and yet I miss him.
The sun sets
And the sun rises
And I hunger, so I leave
To fight and feast
And tear the creatures of this new world
Limb from limb.
And then I see a figure on the sand beside me,
And it calls me by name.
A familiar voice.
It is him.
It is him!
IT IS HIM!
HE IS BACK HE IS BACK
I DO NOT KNOW HOW
BUT HE IS BACK
I MISSED HIM SO MUCH HE IS SO WARM
I KNOW HIS SCENT HE SMELLS SO NICE
HIS VOICE IS TIRED AND SAD
HIS HAIR IS LONG AND TANGLED
BUT HE IS STILL MINE
AND I AM STILL HIS
AND I WOULD KNOW HIM FROM A MILE AWAY
HE IS BACK AND I AM BACK
THE LOVE I DIDN’T KNOW I NEEDED
BUT THAT I CRAVED SO MUCH
WE BRAVE THE APOCALYPSE TOGETHER
CLAMOR 