Rescued from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria

Found amidst piles of debris

Lucky enough to find its way

Leaving the tropical island of Puerto Rico behind

One of the lighter cargo, weighing only fourteen pounds

Awkwardly shaped, too long and too skinny

Needs to be protected

The label says ‘please handle with care’

Scared and unsure because the engines are loud

And the space is too dark

Lonely as there is no one around

The nearby cargo all feel the same way

It arrives at Dulles Airport, not its final destination

Many people come and visit

One family falls in love then brings it home

Big brown eyes look out the window, still scared but not alone

The cargo is still growing, now thirty-three pounds and one year old

More confident and self-assured

Always with a brown and white four-legged companion

Rafael Noche, my springy black lab-whippet mix