It's like meeting a dog at the humane society.
He might be the ugliest thing you've ever seen
with flies and a bad temperament
and when you try to take him for a walk
he pulls on the leash.

But you meet him and there's just something
And you can't really place it
in the eyes or in the ragged fur

You take him home
and even though he likes to chew on your fingers
he feels soft and his appreciation is articulated
wordlessly.