Can I Have That?

A poem by my dog.

Original photo of the author, Juno, taken by her human mother.

If I could speak, I would ask, ‘Can I have that?’
There’s a lot that you eat, that I want.
You say, “The dog’s wondering whether you’re finished,”
but honestly, I don’t care if you aren’t.
I have just one direct question.
It equates to, ‘May I eat that instead?’
In lieu of my ability to form words and talk,
I communicate with my eyeballs, from my bed.

This bed, where you tell me I must sit and wait,
while you enjoy your latest cooked meal,
is comfortable but too far from the action
and so, I must ensure that you feel
my presence as an active observer —
one with a vested interest.
For this reason, as well as my lack of spoken English,
I stare at you intensely, each time you ingest.