{"sf1_id":2243799,"sf2_id":"qmy2MEan","title":"The Black Dog Bites","author":"Dakaar","words":134,"posted_at":"2025-04-15T14:39:52.000Z","tags":["Poetry"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2243799-the-black-dog-bites","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/qmy2MEan","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/44/38/4438df7f-d1fa-4c6d-a2a2-0e9894fb653e","description":"Freeform poetry from the introspective collection, Black Dog, that runs with a folkloric figure that is often associated with misfortune and used as a metaphor for depression. Black Dog looks at this figure and gives him a voice, letting him bark back at a society that’s already made up its mind about him.","content":"“I bite.”\n\n \n\nRefrain of the cornered animal,\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nof the ones who see red and feel it turn\n\n \n\nwhite hot.\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI bark despite the fact that, actually,\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nit's much worse to be bitten,\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nas anyone twice shy will attest,\n\n \n\nand it's only when I'm at my worst\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nthat anyone seems to pay attention.\n\n \n\n“I bite,\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI bite,”\n\n \n\nI bark, but you reach in regardless.\n\n \n\nsqueeze between the bars,\n\n \n\nshove your hand in my mouth to take out my words\n\n \n\nand complain when you feel teeth.\n\n \n\nI've tasted blood before.\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nEach time the thing to scar\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nis the incredulity:\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nHow could I? The quiet one,\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nthe gentle one, first to fall\n\n \n\nasleep before the fire and make\n\n \n\nsuch silly, puppy dog noises\n\n \n\nas I chase my dreams.\n\n \n\nHow dare I show\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nthe sharpest part\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nof me.","series":{"name":"Black Dog","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2243803-the-black-dog-chases-foxes.json"}}