Canine Love Letter from a Poet Wife

I should be good
as my dog, sticking to you like snout
to leg. Toddling forward
into green-grass adventure. Smiling
at puddles and
poodles alike. Nurturing you
with tender licks when you
are cough-wracked. My ears
swiveling to your voice
(not just refrigerator
doors). Whining
bereft when we part. When
you return, bouncing buoyant
to greet you, offering you all
my favorite distractions.

But I make feline
demands for endless petting;
another minute, trot off,
twitching. I stare out
windows, at lone
birds, ca-ca-ca-calling
their mystery names.
While you are gone, I wind
yarn around myself
and doze, ears up for
the next word.

Like with much of my writing, I started this by brainstorming into my Sony digital voice recorder while walking my dog, Una. At first, I was going to write about what a good friend Una is, but I thought that poem, while amusing, was a little sappy. Then I thought about how how I should strive to emulate Una's loyal, selfless friendship. This made me think about how I've been wrapped up in my own projects all weekend, the result being that my quality time with my husband has been short (if sweet). Thus, this poem was born.