i brush my fingers-tips

over the white-whiskers

of

my sedated, pain-free

chocolate lab’s snout.

i

look at his ten-inch

healthy, pink incision

for

cancer surgery. i

pass my fingers over

it

close, not touching, rather

like reiki massage

and

my finger tips warm,

tingle, a tear of my

joy

drops on his ear

and he shakes his

head.