One lilac fragrant twilight of late spring
a pack of dogs surrounded me just where
University’s flank joined the ghetto –
slowly they began to circle watching
My feet to see how I’d move – dogs yellow
and brown and black and tan, their ribs sticking
out from their chests, hunting me as if
they knew their hunger’s business, how to kill
Sweet the evening was, soft the fading light
as I wondered what it would be to feel
the fangs of these dogs, to fall and fade, die –
then came explosion of sweet savagery
As I roared, rushed, struck, stunned the largest dog
So they broke and left me in lilac fog