We sit around the campfire
and my friend’s dog
sits nearby
like he’s resting
but I can’t help but wonder
as I look at his wolf face
if he is not on high alert
watching out for us
as we sit with our backs
to a million possible dangers
I see his ears and his nose twitch
in the wind
and I feel for him
his genes jabbing at him
reminding him
that his job is to protect
his pack
and here we are
laughing in the dark
our heads flung back
our tender necks exposed
to everything.