Might you perceive, if you will,
The consequences to every action?

Might you believe, if you could picture
On a dark and stormy night
In the middle of suburbia
Sits an average car
Recently parked in an average garage
In an average house
In an average neighborhood

In the average yard, an average mutt with a coat of coal, eyes of gold
Reflective of his heart
Around his neck, a worn, well-loved leather collar with a shiny
Bone-shaped license
Reflective of the love of his master:
Eternally glowing bronze.

Lightning strike
Crack the gray sky into two sharp gray panes
White blindness, and then thunder erupts
Fearful dog, startled, license jingles along to the sounds of mighty nature
Whimpers
Snaches up his favorite ball and
Scampers back through the doggie door
Into the dark house.

Ominous silence.

Floppy ears perks upward.
Strange, he thinks, even for this late

Carrying his toy
Mutt wanders though their shared home.
A quaint little cottage, with just two bedroom and a bath
Nothing too fancy.
Perfectly fit for Master and Mutt.
And perfect for late Midwest nights as these:
Meager tornado watches flash on the big screen
As friends enjoy coffee and kibble
Riviting in the comfort of the American dream

But this night holds no television
No lights on whatsoever, in fact
Faithful companion relies on his ears
To make his way
Though the long, narrow hallway
Searching for a sound
Indication of movement he so craves

Just ahead, a crack of light
Mutt ambles forward
Heart ago with hope, Master has returned home!
He thought he heard the garage door open.

The images that shines back in his ebony eyes
Among tools and paint cans
A rope, thick as his collar
Vertical Shadow standing straight as a line
On the yellow brick walls
Hanging just as straight
On the end
Is a still bodied man
Hanging from the rafters
Rope at the neck
Looking out into the world
With his own hopeful gold eyes
Now deceased
As the hopes of his rescue pup
Of a full and happy life.

If you can believe
That which you did not perceive
Ever action has a reaction
And no one is ever truly alone
And now you behold
Hangman's true loser.