The animal growls menacingly br Continually lunging br Behind the invisible barrier br At my frightened br And blind chocolate lab br br Hurrying to pack br This trips memory br I shiver in a br Ninety degree drive br br Twenty hours round trip br Every other week br Living out of suitcases br Leaves me feeling disordered br br I.N.T.J.s are seldom br Good captives… br The exception, br I am not br br Reading to pass the time... br I am struck by: br “Never shall I forget those moments br that murdered my God br and my soul and turned my dreams into ashes.” br br I think of the neighbor br Who electrifies br His yard to keep in br A rottweiler br br And shoots at br Nutrias with a bb gun br For entertainment br br And then, I understand br A bit better br Wiesel’s “Night”* br br br ~ May 31,2006 br Somewhere in the Smokies br br published: br www.abovegroundtesting.