Golden Monstrosity

She lies there with paws crossed just so

Rather insouciant as a matter of fact

Black lips and snout resting

Against the gold wood floor

A faded green tennis ball

resting between her paws

Her belly rises and falls,

a little faster than mine

Something catches her attention

Children’s voices floating on the wind

A neighbor dragging out a trash can

She traipses to the big picture window

Nails clicking on floor

Nothing to be alarmed about,

She settles again, curled up this time

Snout on paws,

Not five feet away from me.

My umbilical cord-connected,

golden monstrosity.