Pavlov's Mistress

Pavlov's Mistress

Though man may hang around with dogs
stupified by faith and dominance,
his weakness keeps prevailing. Fidelity
is hard. Could Fido keep a ball upon
his nose? At first. Then gravity must hog
the spotlight. Suchlike is man and romance:
a balancing act. Then something small and fidgety
goes rustling through his pants. The telephone 

hits static interference. Eyes walk on stilts.
From rubbing thighs he hears a bell-like sound,
though nothing like the church’s tone.
Inside a house a pint of flowers wilt
and reach toward the feel of firmer ground.
Unleashed, the man jumps up and turns to bone.