old dogs

you can’t teach old dogs new tricks

and curiosity killed the cat

so how do you expect me to

not just leave things where they’re at?

maybe i’m both bark and bite

maybe i’m both hiss and scratch

even though i’d love to heel

accept love and not push it back

you may touch my fur for now

i’ll even enjoy paying heed

but please don’t be upset at me

inevitably, i'll retreat

you can’t teach old dogs new tricks

and the cat has long been dead

i hope someday i’ll be reborn

as someone who’s less off their head