When the Dogs Bite: 20th December 2025

family meal

a Yuletide lunch with the Aunt

and beloved cousins

When the Chatbot claims Delivered.

"Thy parcel has been successfully delivered"

the missive from the Evri company declares

"Left in thy porch while thy poor courier shivered

at twenty minutes to eight PM, if thou has cares."

But Nay, I was in and working in the room next to the door

and wouldst I hear the knock I would have answered

but knocking was quite absent, nor the bell before

was pressed and not a single bark was stanzared.

And so I check and no parcel had been left there

e'en though we have no porch but just a step to cross

I checked also behind the bins and bike shed

and o'er the gate in case it was there tossed.

And so I follow up the missive, enter my postcode

but the chat bot says it is not my abode.

When the Dogs Bite