I held the dog in my lap
the golden pit bull-spaniel mix.
Of course, you know dogs,
so I was held also.

I had gentled the dog
the dog had gentled me.

He looked at us
“This dog has never known cruelty,”
he said, shocked
to see a myth come to life,
a dream become reality.

He and I,
strangers to safety,
were like Martians just arrived
to a new planet,
uncertain of its terrain,
familiar only with threat.

Later
He returned to bully
and I returned as victim.