Mange and Salt
the dog chewed through the pipes
beneath the porch
curs' are like that, my father said
always looking for an ear
or an ankle to bite
burrs and picks tearing slivers
in its mouth
teeth tearing away copper
mange with salt
it was always hot beneath the porch
in the absence of light
dug out with the shucks of my fingers
a penknife
and a dog's cunning
