The dogs tipped the garbage and the meat spilled out
the larger dog sniffed it
the smaller stood to the side and growled

the meat quivered on the floor
I’d kept it too long it was
slick and fat it had expired

all this while I stood in line
and then the ballot machine glowed greenly
yes yes yes I told it

while the large dog licked the meat
lifted it gingerly with its mouth
dropped it wetly to the floor