Elise Powers

WILD INDULGENCE

There is a woman in my neighborhood

with not one, but six

full-grown St. Bernard dogs.

She tethers them to her waist

and trots the happy troop

up and down the street.

I see her and think what a wild indulgence,

to gather so much joy it orbits you

in a glorious parade of gluttony,

as if she leaves the house and dares

the world to question

how much happiness one person deserves.

It’s ridiculous, of course—

but so is happiness,

so is the heart’s hunger

for more and more and more.

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