Howl

Either the dun bitch will bear or she will not. If she bears either you
will place the pups in a sack or you will not. If you place the pups in
a sack either you will tie the sack with a black dress shoestring or you
will not. If you tie the sack either you will carry it down to the stream
or you will not. If you carry it down to the stream either you will throw
the sack in or you will not. If you throw the sack in either one pup will
swim or it will not. If one pup swims either you will carry that pup home
in your arms or you will not. If you carry that pup home in your arms
either night will fall before you reach the house or it will not. If night
falls before you reach the house either the moon will show or not. If
the moon shows either it will show itself full or not. Either you will
turn the pup’s head to face the full moon or you will not. If you turn
the pup’s head to face the moon either a sound will come from inside the
pup or it will not. If a sound comes either you will know the sound or
you will not. If you know the sound you will know that you yourself have
been making that sound without ceasing all the days of your life. Prayer,
you will call it, or not.

Shannon Holman, New York, 2001