Why Is the Dog Barking? - Poem

Why Is the Dog Barking?

It started three nights ago.

At first, it was just a low growl.

Sarah had chalked it up to the wind. Or a squirrel outside. Maybe the dog heard something through the window. That wasn’t unusual—dogs barked. But it wasn’t until the second night that the growling turned to barking.

Loud, insistent, angry barking.

Always at the bedroom door.

Always at exactly 3:17 a.m.

And it was never the front door, or the back door, or even the hallway—just the bedroom door. Her door. Closed and locked, with her curled up beneath the blankets, heart pounding as her golden retriever, Luna, snarled at something on the other side.

She tried opening the door once.

Nothing was there. No sound in the hallway. No shadow. Just the faint creak of the floor under her own feet.

But Luna didn’t calm down.

Even after the door was wide open, the dog kept barking at the empty space. Hair raised. Teeth bared.

Like something was still standing there.

Invisible.

Waiting.

By the third night, Sarah was terrified.

She didn’t sleep.

She sat in bed, holding Luna close, as the dog growled softly until 3:17 came again.

And just like before, the barking began—sudden, explosive. The dog rushed the door and scratched at it, whimpering between snarls.

This time, Sarah didn’t get up.

She stared at the door.

It wasn’t just barking anymore.

Luna was begging. Trying to get in.

But she was already in the room.

That’s when Sarah realized.

The barking wasn’t coming from Luna.

Her dog was beside her.

Silent.

Shaking.

Eyes wide with fear, staring directly at the bedroom door.

The barking was coming from the other side.

Another dog.

A perfect mimic.

Snarling. Growling.

Pawing at the wood.

Then the voice changed.

The growl stretched too long. The bark slurred. Became garbled. Became words.

"Let me in."

Sarah backed up against the headboard.

Luna whined softly, trying to burrow into her lap.

The doorknob turned.

Not fast. Not subtle. Just a slow, deliberate twist.

Sarah clutched Luna tight. Whispered, “No. No. No—”

Then silence.

The barking stopped.

The doorknob stopped.

Sarah held her breath.

And then—

A soft knock.

"Bad dog."