The Joy of Lex:. John Thomas Clark

      TROUBLES

      Four months late, and at the eleventh hour,

      near the end of July, my new power

      wheelchair finally arrived. In two days

      I had to learn the chair’s intricate ways,

      then try to steer this state-of-the-art rig

      up the ramp into the van for our gig

      at Medford*. Easier said than done,

      and, later that week, in my one-on-one

      with a live Lex, I still lacked full command

      of the chair. His look said, “I understand,”

      as I committed mistake on mistake ––

      saying “Heel” for “Side” and then “Give” for “Shake.”

      His next look said, “I’ll make you forget your troubles” ––

      he nosed into the water bowl and blew some bubbles.

      *Medford –– a Long Island, New York Canine Companions for

      Independence training facility

      FIRST DAYS

      I stand in front of the room. The hostile

      crowd is arrayed like isle after small isle

      of angry rock in a river –– blued bile

      cataracts standing in my first wet mile

      as a neophyte teacher. File on file

      of flinty-faced sixth-graders, who revile

      school, sit on my command. Inside I smile ––

      I’ll survive the course down our ten-month Nile.

      I sit in front of the room. The docile

      creature stands before me. Almost servile

      in his wish to please, Lex sits, stands, heels while

      I give commands. That day, this versatile

      dog, to this day, in his earned blue vest and collar,

      listens as well as my best sixth-grade scholar.