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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN# / ISBN# issue/book “My Homeland” Down in the Dirt, v205 (3/23) Order the paperback book:

Order this writing that appears in the one-of-a-kind anthology Forbidden Library the Down in the Dirt Jan.-April 2023 issues collection book		get the 420 page Jan.-April 2023 Down in the Dirt 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

It’s AFT

John F McMullen

6:45 AM
Fala the Wonder Dog
rises with a bark and
then starts to whine

I reluctantly rise
before this
demanding female
wakes up the other
three of the type
in the house
wife Barbara and
the two cats

Once I am up
she ceases barking
it’s AFT

When I am in
the bathroom
she sits outside
the door
whining softly
I come out
and she stops
AFT!

I go into the kitchen
and gather the
breakfast materials
Tropicana Orange Juice
Starbucks Cold Brew
and an Apple Tart
to hide pills in for me
and pieces of chicken
to hide medicine in
for the Wonder Dog

As I approach the table
she jumps up barking
to encourage me
to move it along
the bark turns to a
whine as I wrap the
¼ of a pill in the chicken
and subsides as I
hand feed her the food

Then I have my juice
and begin the coffee
if I take too long though
she reminds me with
another bark or more
that it is time for me to
get up and get her fresh water
and that ends those barks
AFT

When I finish the coffee
tart and pills I get up
put a lease on her
grab another can
of Cold Brew
And take her out

A short walk
I sit at the table
pick her up
She curls up on my lap
I look out at the trees
in my mini-forest
drink the coffee
and relax

It’s About Fucking Time!

(Psst — and I wrote the poem with Fala on my lap and me on my iPad Mini
as I typed and drank the Cold Brew and gazed at this)

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