Stray Hold - Isabella De La Torre

Entwined happiness,

sinks to the marrow

of a dog’s leg bone

Head resting on a plush bed,

he lets out a sigh,

a breath of contempt

and now

The metallic scent of blood

floats into the canine throat

The floors are mopped with bleach,

dry, cracked paw pads slip as

the leash is placed around his neck

Gentle, firm hands in his final moment

He wonders, if he’s dreaming-

Isabella De La Torre is a Mexican-American writer from Fresno, California. She is an MFA Poetry student at California State University, Fresno. Intrigued by the animal world, she has a passion for wildlife conservation and advocating for endangered species. Her works deal with the animal perspective and the human race’s relationship with nature. She has been previously published in Hais: a literary journal and Honeyguide Literary Magazine.