...Homo Domestic Canis...

The stray-dog eyes me with caution, 

yet his gaze belies indifference. 

I exist for this canine malcontent, 

but not as man’s best friend. 

He does not care to know me 

and prefers said status quo. 

We are totally different species, 

connected by a significant history, 

and yet both of us hold a 

mutual understanding 

that he will never sit 

before the fire’s hearth 

with head resting upon my foot. 

No, this is no cultured canine.  

Certainly not domesticated. 

To him, I manifest as nothing special—

nothing to be revered nor respected. 

I am not man, nay God’s chosen. 

If he is mere canis familiaris, 

then I am equally mere homo sapiens. 

Two mutually insignificant species 

who just now happen to share 

this common expanse of asphalt. 

So what is it about this dog 

that makes him different 

from the status quo? 

Could it be he’s 

achieved self-esteem? 

A self-esteem contrary to 

the entire human race?

The breaking of a dog entails 

the never allowing them to 

go beyond puppy stage. 

He and his brethren will 

never achieve alpha-male status 

for the fact that we, 

the race of man

hold the role of alpha-male. 

And yet, here, now, 

on this one particular street, 

with this one particular dog, 

I     have met my equal. 

And what does this say 

about me, to be equal 

to a common cur? 

I stare at him 

and there reflected 

in his opaque eyes, 

I know that deeper within him 

lies a malcontent 

far darker than any 

I will ever achieve. 

No. Not even I 

qualify as his equal.

I’ve climbed the vine of mankind 

to achieve not homo sapiens, 

but mere homo domestic. 

And if I am nothing but 

   homo domestic, 

just who is the feral man 

equivalent to this dog? 

What man stands worthy 

to act as his counter-part?

Charlie Manson stands 

emaciated and withered behind 

those cage doors of his making, 

and I have to ask, 

was this the best feral 

we’d ever hope to achieve?

Ah… no wonder 

this one stray dog 

holds nothing but contempt 

for not only me, but 

mankind as a whole. 

And I? 

I here held this 

one moment to shine, 

but ever remain 

homo 

domestic 

canis.

Ó03 Jack David Hubbell