Mall Puppies (Matt Maday)

I.

For a

red-blooded,
white,
blue-blooded,

American pup,

life is rough

because he's
bought and sold,

and still,
mall puppies

grow up to be
mall dogs.

What do we
make of this?

II.

A

red-headed stepchild was blessed by a
white owl in the true-
blue

wilderness, and both were
cured with
cold fusion;

we all seemed to benefit.

A lactating rat bought at a store
will sometimes feed a wild
weasel child, even though they
are natural enemies.

The market 
economy and
ecology determine
the value of
animals to each other.

III.

It was a

red-letter day for a
white,
blue-haired

woman

when she got
the right to
vote, yet

it was
decades before

the ballot

included an
opportunity

for us all
to
donate to

the animal
shelter,

where the
mall
puppies and 
mall dogs
end up

after their 

previous 
owners

make a 
difficult decision.