Loyal Hound

I’m a moored loyal hound
Awaiting your return
My indifference has been long gone
I can no longer adopt that facade
I have outgrown it,
fed fat and complacent
on your adorations.
I wish I had it in me to be ashamed
Not of loving you,
Of waiting right where you left me,
But of how loud
my wounded whimpering has gotten.
I love like a loyal hound
you’ve spent so long befriending.
To go against my nature;
To stop my urge to heel
To stick wet nose, wet nuzzle
Into your hands and to beg
Hurts me more than a distant promise More than uncertain returns
And dates long ago marked
In anticipation