I’ve seen them wearing coats, wearing sweaters,
riding in bike baskets, and shopping carts.
Tied up outside stores, on concrete, waiting for their beloved.
Dog bodhisattvas are not bogged down in dogma.
They are not downward dogs.
Dog bodhisattvas are often harnessed for duty and wearing a badge or service vest, absorbing or deflecting suffering for those they serve.
Dog bodhisattvas meet others where they are,
leading or following their person in need.
They model forgiveness.
They are God reversed, groundlings with their feet always contacting earth, and staying, waiting on nirvana, staying present with us here, helping us to suffer a little bit less.
3rd place, Oregon Poetry Association, new poet category, Spring 2020 contest