when you lie on the floor
on your phone
to get your audiobook
pulled up and an insect
has the nerve to brush
against your back,
where your shirt
has ridden up to expose
a strip of skin,
and a scream wells up
— before it spurts
out, your pup snuffs
behind you, you roll
over, the pup pushes
his furry face into yours,
he’s the culprit,
you swallow your scream
and smile into his kisses