Mutual Lessons
The old dog is teaching the puppy.
He’s already lifting his leg.
He chews on himself and he’s scratching.
And, yes, he has started to beg.
But the puppy is teaching the old dog,
who’s eager for praise and a hug
and who whines now to get our attention.
And this morning he peed on the rug.
Bruce Bennett’s most recent chapbook is The Donald Trump Of The Republic. He is a Professor Emeritus of English at Wells College, where he taught English and Creative Writing and directed the college’s Visiting Writers Series beginning in 1973.