Why Do You Ask?

Why Do You Ask?
by Kate Barnes

I can't make
any story
about my life

tonight. The house
is like an overturned
wastebasket;

the radio
is predicting
more snow.

I ask my dog
to tell me
a story, and she

never hesitates.
Once upon
a time," she says,

"a woman lived
with a simply
wonderful dog. . ." and

She stops talking
"Is that all?"
I ask her.

"Yes," she says,

Why do you ask?
Isn't that enough?"