Woof

The pale moon glistening above
sends shadows of his myriad loves.
That old flame. A new spark.
Yet, tonight, his soul remained dark.

There he stood upon that ledge,
peering down over that fatal edge.
He faced the bosom of the dark abyss,
and the deadly attraction of its kiss.

His thin frame stood tall.
His mind imagined the fall.
Hark! A happy memory flickered in his mind!
Alas. It died like the rest of its kind.

A cold breeze rustled through his clothes
lying loosely upon his bones.
His spirit may already have departed,
yet there he stood, his feet slightly parted.

Down he looked into the world of the living.
Happy fires. Laughter brimming.
A twinge of jealousy. A creased forehead.
A dry snort, then a deep breath.

Upon that ledge, he stood,
feeling the coldness of the wood.
The numbness on his soles
would be his final lack of control.

There he stood; pale lad in white.
One foot in the air. The other held tight.
But no death would occur on this roof
since tonight he heard a woof.

The tiny pup shivered in the corner.
Its eyes looking for anywhere warmer.
The pale lad looked upon it with leg still raised.
Then he lept back without averting his gaze.

Slowly he walked towards the creature,
bony fingers examined its features.
Gently he cradled it in his arm
and left this roof; neither of them harmed.

Death floated nearby on his leather wings,
watched the scene unfold, like one of his playthings.
A smile played upon that hollow face
as he turned the hourglass, starting a new race.