Something started
as abruptly as
it stopped
the mad, laughing chorus of dogs
howling to the cloud mist filled
rings of the night
moaning and groaning
a wail of their
heart’s delight
pounding chest with grinding mind
echoing nerve bending
sending vibrations throughout
a listener
was there
but did not show prudence nor care
was just there
at a desolate, deserted
roadside gas station
the dogs barked and howled
among the tall reeds and grass
yet nothing was there
empty, silent
the dogs were gone
faded, burned, spurned
by a newborn coal in the sand
an echo persisted
neither resisted
and it stopped