Hound of Hell

There*s something about seeing Halloween decorations, even the most elaborate ones, the day after Halloween, in full sunlight, that makes them lose their scary punch.  I have never been one for horror movies or the like.  Today, walking to Lake Ellyn with a friend, we saw the wraiths strung up looking like a stage set, and we laughed.  Two doors down was a motionless dog, looking as I have always imagined the Hound of Hell to look.   We wondered if he was stuffed he was so still.  No.  Real.  In the sunlight. No strings attached.  He never barked.  Never growled.  He just watched us walk by.  He is probably a really nice dog... who just happens to look like the Hound of Hell.

On the walk at high noon

The Halloween wraiths

Were strung in trees,

Last night*s display now in full sun.

Today

It looked like a stage set.

Two doors down

Full In the sun:

The dog: muscular, short-haired, brown,

Perfectly still.

His eyes were yellow.

He was

A perfect rendering

Of the Hound of Hell.

High noon, we walked, then

He moved, still, silent,

Walked the boundary

Of his yard.

Eyes yellow.

Still, silent, in the sunlight.

The perfect image

Of the Hound of Hell

At high noon.