Chicken

We have been
Married for over
Forty years when
Our latest pet dog a
Rat terrier named Pita
Is embroiled in a game
Of a contest between my
Wife and myself trying to
Get the dog to come to us
And not the other which is the
Sort of thing that happens after
The last child has flown the coop.
We each are bent forward calling
The dog gesticulating cooing but
The fog is too wise to commit
One way or the other until
I hold out my hand so the
Dog can smell the piece
Of chicken I am hiding
And the dog bounds
Over to me to get
The chicken and
My wife looks
Surprised
And sad
So I
Reach
Into my
Pocket to
Show her
The chicken
I am tempting
Our dog with as
She reacts by the
Withering glance fists
Balled up and she shouts,
“Chicken-man! Chicken-man!!”
Laughing as she yells her
Accusation at me but
I just hold our dog
Giving Pita bits of
Chicken smiling
Back at her
Until we
Drop
The dog
Game and
Make up though
Afterwards when she
Is particularly peeved with
Me at some sneaky thing I am
Up to she resorts to her
Accusation chicken
Man! Chicken
Man!!