Unnecessary.

a boy and his auntie and the dog.

Unnecessary,
Auntie said,

when you asked
about taking the mutt

for a walk;
he can take himself

for a walk,
in fact,

she continued
straining the cabbage,

the green water
pushing through

the stainless steel colander,
he runs,

he loves to run
all over the fields.

You knew he did,
you used to run with him,

and being that kind of mutt
he’d let you run beside him,

you being a small boy,
you being the one

who shared his bacon rinds,
you the one who filled

his water bowl
when Auntie forgot.

Sit down now,
Auntie said,

dinner is about
to be served,

and I hope
you have washed

your hands,
and she’d dish you

a large serving
of cabbage

with your meal
and she didn’t see

how that was so
unnecessary.