Cement Steps

Heavy feet. Weighted movement.

The door opens. Four cement steps.

1, 2, 3 gray crumble down.

Too quickly off the doorway ledge.

I say, “no”.

The dog stops.

1, 2, 3 pebbles round.

Just black. No path ahead.

I say, “no”.

The dog stares.

1, 2, 3 bare corners ground.

No ice.

I say, “no”.

The dog sniffs.

1, 2, 3 reshaped angles sound.

Wet to be frozen tracks

I say, “no”.

The dog selects.

1, 2, 3 cat paws abound.

Snow bites before it licks.

I say, “no”.

The dog questions.

1, 2, 3 uncertain ground.

Unswept. Unseen.

I say, “no”.

The dog agrees.

1, 2, 3 trails to be found.

Swept again. Erased.

I say, “no”.

The dog listens.

For heavy feet. Weighted movement.

Cement steps. The door opens.