The Black Dog

 Losing to the black dog?

We like to think of the black dog as a ferocious beast with a snapping jaw

He's a Doberman with untrimmed claws that like to dig away at our sanity

Until there's nothing left at all

He's full of mange, eyes filled with a fearful rage

He'll tear you limb from limb and watch you fall

Right?

I like to think of his brother as a smiling black lab

Toppling over his victims with kisses and a thrashing tail

Free from the hands of this angry world

He's untouched

I'd like to think I could be forgiven

That I'd be shown enough mercy for such a greeting

His smiling face sniffing mine 

Waking me up from a bad fever dream

Grinning and ready to play

I would go back 10 years. 24 to 14

Laying in the grass under a late September sun

This place has no hatred, no fear, no shadowy corners to hide in

It smells like summer kissing fall 

It sounds like your best friend's laughter

And it feels like looking into the eyes of the one you love 1,000 times over

When we come back Home we're children once again 

Remastered like an album with your favorite song

We can leave the hurt behind

Once and for all

If only we let ourselves lose

To the black dog