Nina Yuliano

by Best Poem

Grayhound

Every day after their lunch,
he accompanies his middle-aged mistress
on a walk around the block. This
tall, slender, gray-haired gentleman.

He always takes the side nearest the road,
just in case. He knows
more about the world than she does;
knows what can happen. How,

for no reason at all, and quickly,
one can be made to suffer.
Meeting her changed his life. In his quiet way,
he has tried to let her know this. He,

who could outrun the wind, always
slows his pace to hers, stepping along
almost delicately, brushing
against her, the leash slack between them.

Nina Yuliano loves a certain kind of clear, quiet poetry; animals; gardens; and the outdoors.