Laura Rodley, a Pushcart Prize winner, has been nominated for the prize seven times and has also received five Best of the Net nominations. Her recent works include Turn Left at Normal (published by Big Table Publishing Company), Counter Point (published by Prolific Press), and Ribbons and Moths: Poems for Children (published by Kelsay Books). With a talent for capturing the essence of life, Rodley’s writing resonates with readers of all ages. Whether exploring the natural world or delving into human emotions, her words evoke a sense of wonder and connection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PClY8G6HQwk
Bestowing of the Dog Biscuits
At the bank
at the post office
at the dump
slack-faced people’s
mouths curve in smiles,
as they ask,
“Can I give your dog
a biscuit?”
I vet the biscuit,
or give them one of my own,
then at the gas station,
at the grocery store,
for a blessed moment
time stops as we watch
Della the Border Collie/cross
as she lifts up her gums
displaying curved fangs,
reaches her jaw forward,
delicately takes the biscuit
they drop in, unwilling
to have her teeth close
on their fingers,
as the bestower lifts
their own chin, smiling,
a little bit of heaven
while heaven still exists.
The Galway Review 