From the dry, hot, furnacy

hike while the Western

Diamondback rattler said,

“It’s spring; I’m hungry;

go home to the upper-

Midwest,” and the dog

heard it and paid attention

because he had just had

rattlesnake training, to nine

days later, having finished

a wet, chilly, refrigeratory

romp through the forest

near Lake Michigan while

the Eastern Massasauga

rattler continued to sleep

in his swampy, winter home,

the Chocolate Lab arose from

his post-hike nap, perked

his ears and listened to some-

thing he hadn’t heard for

some time – sleety, spring

rain beating down on the

roof right over his head

near the fire-place.