One can imagine what CoCo might say:

the afternoon we lie on the grass
by the blue-green lagoon, stretch out
side by side, the sun warming us.
I muse, nothing’s better than this,
She answers in a girlish voice,
I’m so bored let’s chase jays.

I ask, just to hear that girl-like voice,
who do you love more me or him?
She evenly divides her time between
our laps so she puzzles this.
What do you think, she retorts.

We watch nature programs about bats &
manatees, CoCo beside us. The announcer
says Manatees are related to elephants.
What’s an elephant, she asks. (I bring a small
sculpture of one to show her). Later he adds, Bats
are mammals, but they fly like birds says, CoCo.

We go for walks & when we cross the
street she asks, why? Like the Chicken
I answer, to get to the other side. Why do you
always bag my big business on walks but
not always at home. I don’t answer.

No more sitting quietly by the table until we
finish dinner and put a taste in her dish. She
whines, hurry, hurry, hurry under her breath.
No more sitting quietly by our bed while I
take off pillows, turn back the spread.
She mutters, you’re so slow, so slow.

When the doorbell rings she yells for us.
No more barking. At night she screams
go away, (there’s no consoling her)fearful
of noises & odors outside only she hears
& smells, until the critter moves on.

Upon reflection, I don’t want my wish granted.
I adore my dog and she me, but there’s much
to be said for a loving…………. silent companion.
We communicate with one another & dogs have
something we do not: a sixth sense about their
owner’s mood—without words to get in the way.