I am a boy and my dog is still living

The plants in my garden

are dangerous

The marigold will sting you when

you kiss it

The snapdragon will break your face

if you try something

The foxglove guards the shed

your granddad filled with sacks of mice

and the greengage tree

a negligent parent

whose sons all died from -

can't remember what - a love bite?

Only the lupin

ungainly lupin

with outdated frills

and pink leg-warmers

and a grey cap

and witch string puppets

dangling at its painted fingertips

is approachable

And maybe that's just cos

she grows over

my old dog's grave

.

(may 2007)