Thanks.

Honorable mention to the pavement
in front of my building growing up
where my father dug my initials
the day I was born.

Honorable mention to the dog
that ran freely with me
getting hit by a careless car in my neighborhood,
yelping, then shrugging it off
and continuing his race
which I won.

Honorable mention to the cat
that the same leashless dog killed
in a different occasion
further proving that maybe
leashes are a pretty good idea.

Honorable mention to that freckle faced girl in third grade
who got my motor running
in a way
that made no prepubescent sense.

Honorable mention to you
for listening so patiently
with no clear reason.
This one
went out to you.
Thanks again.