Before you say my name,
let me tell you how much
I love your new haircut,
and I agree with you
that farting in bed,
especially in winter
and you let me under the big cover,
is BAD.

And, I love you
so much I let you be
the bigger person here.
I didn’t bark
as if to say, “What? Why are you home
so early?”
I just looked at you
square in the eye
to let you know how much
I deserve to be told
to get off the table
(even though it is
a much better vantage point
to keep guard over that back window)
and because I love the sound of
your voice. Especially
when you say my name,
or the word “treats.”

If my love is enough
for you,
then you’ll just wipe
off the table
and let me sleep in your lap
while you watch
Stranger Things.