Anger Is a Borrowed Dog

Anger arrives pulling the lead,
all teeth and urgent muscle.
It says bite.
It says protect.
It says every approaching hand
belongs to history.
I do not kill it.
I do not let it drive.
I walk it,
name what frightened it,
keep it from the children.
At home,
I return the lead
to the hook.
Not every faithful animal
should sleep in the bed.