Poetry by Alexandra Nelson

Dogs’ names

“All dogs are called Chops,” Mark said, my first love.

Unless you count Richard, in the second grade.

Richard was the best artist in the class,

but only because I was just a girl

and therefore didn’t count.

I found Richard on the internet.

He went into graphic design.

I found them all on the internet.

Richard, John, Jay, Mark, Pete, Craig.

Gordy, Michael, Dan, another Marc, Bill.

I got stuck on Bill for forty years,

although there was this guy Bob.

I could have gone for that.

They’re all gone now.

But I still call every dog Chops.