A love poem

My favorite piece from national poetry month

Do you know how much I love you? 
When you rest your head against me, I feel chosen
My heart breaks when you’re in pain
and you don’t know how to tell me
other than by not taking an interest
in your morning breakfast you usually skip around in circles for 

You look at me with such earnest eyes 
Do you love me as much as I love you?
Or am I merely your ball thrower,
your wet food dispenser 
your transport to your favorite trails 

I cannot even pretend like I get the short end of the stick
Even when you’ve run away down the beach with all of it 
gnawing your cute little teeth 

I love how you immediately start to pull on your leash when you see the beach
and zoom off and your paws hit the sand 
I love how your eyes beg me
Please, PLEASE, throw the ball
and you’ll scratch at me if you feel I’m not hearing you
I love how your ears perk up instantly once I’ve picked up the ball 

I love how much you love cheese! I love cheese!
I love how much you love carrots, that you always hover by my leg when you hear me chopping vegetables, hopeful that an orange nugget might fall your way
I am extra sloppy with my chopping when I see you nearby 
The crunch of a carrot is especially endearing
When a 13-pound chihuahua is chomping down on it