The Saluki

Commentary

Once upon an afternoon hazy, while I sat, weak and lazy
Listening to my radio that lay upon the floor
While I listened, mind not sparking, suddenly there came a barking
As if someone gently larking, larking at my bedroom door.
"'Tis a stray," I muttered. "Barking at my bedroom door."
Only this, and nothing more.

Distinctly, I remember, it was a cold October noon
As I listened to the Salukis and Bears engage in gridiron war
Somehow I knew something bad would happen soon
Something that had happened once before
A player, short and swift, with talent over more
Would find himself mangled upon the stadium floor.

Presently, I heard a whistling, possibly a whispering
"Sir," said I, "Or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore
But the fact is I was listening to a radio gently glistening
And so faintly you came whispering, gently whistling at my bedroom door."
I grabbed a nearly two-by-four and here I opened wide the door
Darkness there, and nothing more,

I stood there catatonically as I began to fear
Thoughts of disaster my mind began to sow
When a faint sound rumbled in the middle of my ear.
And the only word I heard was "Mo"
This I whispered, and the darkness replied, "Mo"
This, and nothing Mo.

Back in the bedroom pondering, my mind was slowly wandering
Soon again I heard barking somewhat louder than before
Surely this was the wind blowing - or a crazy person mowing
If this be a prank, I truly must explore
To find the culprit whom I shall stomp into the floor
Or maybe it's the wind, and nothing more.

I tiptoed over from my La-Z-Boy recliner
And suddenly, with hurricane fury, flung forth my bedroom door
There he stood, with fur not likely finer
Sitting, staring through the space once occupied by my bedroom door
His sad eyes looking like they never had before
Sitting, staring, and nothing more.

What was this dog doing - food was he pursuing?
I had never seen eyes so sad before
My soul was stewing, so I fed him, and as he began chewing
He dropped the Ramen noodles to the floor
With my finest food creation on my bedroom floor
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

I stood there with my eyes agaze
Had a Saluki ever spoken before?
My curiosity had been set ablaze
But the Saluki, demonstrative no more
Stood there chewing on an apple core
Then, again, he said, "Nevermore."

What was this dog implying?
Was his head unhealthily sore?
But I could only stand there sighing
Listening in the background to a voice I had heard before
Mike Reis said Abdulqaadir was on the floor
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

The saddened dog thus entered - in my home he centered
And laid himself upon the floor
I thought to myself, Mojo's arm will be bettered
His wrist is only a little sore
It is this and nothing more
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

But the Saluki, he knew better
He had raised his hopes before
He remembered a back that was once thought to be better
Only to have a Racer end his dreams of yore
The room grew darker, even darker than before
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

"What makes you think it's over," I said
"Perhaps a second opinion he could explore
He may only need some time in bed
His wrist is merely sore!
This and nothing more!"
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

I stood there angered by his calm demeanor
Who was he to say that Mo would run no more
After all, he could not be in hands finer
Than Dr. Perkins, who had examined my own head before
Let us wait for his opinion I implore!
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

Then there it was - that wretched voice
Saying Mo would run this year no more
Even should he want to, he had no choice
I felt a great sadness, deep to the core
The back I had for months admired could run no more
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

Suddenly, my sorrow begat anger
Randomly kicking things upon the floor
I had grown tired of this banter
With this dog of ancient lore
Who knew the rest of the season would now be a bore
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

I turned to kick the animal yelling
But slipped upon something lain upon the floor
I pleaded for help to the dog bellowing
His assistance I implored
But he only yawned, as if he were bored
Quoth the Saluki, "Nevermore."

And the Saluki, never blinking, still is sitting
On the thin, brown carpet right upon my bedroom floor
And his eyes still are gleaming, two retinas-a-dreaming
Of a back much like the ones he knew before
And my stiff carcass, lain beside him on my bedroom floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

Michael is a junior in journalism. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.