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Contagion
I have a severe contagion
Pernicious and chronic
There is no known cure
And only one tonic
I was infected early in life
As if I‘d born it my whole life through.
But I know the source and can name the day
The third of November in sixty two.
There was a tension then in the house
I could sense it but knew not why
Strange sounds behind closed doors
And hard words when I tried to pry
It took me unaware
The dawn of my second birthday
And my life was never the same
As they broke the wall of secrecy
A plain cardboard box in the kitchen
High walled and open at the top
In it, an explosion of tongue and tail
My very own labrador pup
There have been other dogs since
And many many miles walked
I take my tonic four times a day
And I pray that I won‘t be cured
