"The Catahoula Lean"
There’s a breed of dog from Louisiana,
name of Catahoula.
And if a Catahoula trusts you,
he’ll lean on your body like a sleepy tower.
When it happens, your tight bones will split out so that your soul can sigh:
“The Catahoula Lean
like full fat heavy cream
drop, rest, plant me in my tummy.
Now we’re just two creatures of need.”
Back home in me I remember, I can live like a poet with a Catahoula who leans.
Lean on me, little Catahoula.
You got me. I got you.
And if I forget, press your sleepy tower head on my heart and I’ll split open again so the world can have me too.
But I just know I won’t remember. So lean on me, little Catahoula. Until I’m honest on my own.


💗
My brother Howard and his wife Nancye used to have a Cathoula in Tallahassee for many years. It was a very sweet dog, just like your poem.