​Untrained by Todd Matson

Not to be
inhospitable,
but every time you
come here with your dog,
everyone is walking on eggshells.

I understand
dogs can smell fear
because they can smell
the stress hormones released
into saliva, but this is just ridiculous!

We can all
occasionally be
triggered into flight,
flight, freeze or faint and
flip our lids, but apparently any
little innocuous word, glance, move
or gesture can trigger a completely out of
control frothing at the mouth attack – barking
growling, snarling, biting, jumping for our jugular.
I don’t freaking know whether to call animal control or 911!

Listen,
your sweet
dog is welcome
here anytime, but I
suggest you keep that
brain of yours on a leash!


Todd Matson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in North Carolina, United States.  His poetry has been published in The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling; Soul-Lit: A Journal of Spiritual Poetry; The Clayjar Review, Agape Review and Mindfull Magazine, and his short stories have been published in Ariel Chart International Literary Journal; Faith, Hope and Fiction; Agape Review, Literary Yard, Vital Christianity, CafeLit and Children, Churches & Daddies.  He has also written lyrics for songs recorded by several contemporary Christian music artists, including Brent Lamb, Connie Scott and The Gaither Vocal Band.