pick a winner

PICK A WINNER
by Jay Passer
because of the air closing in on time
I whip out my inhaler
one hand on the wheel
the other jamming the clutch
on the way to the track
to watch the riderless dogs
throw their obedience-school education away
for a bone-yard reward
because of the choke-hold clench of the dollar
the heart’s palate of stone is contingent
on prescriptions for bliss
hares just out of reach
of vegetarian fangs
gnashing in sleep