MY IMAGINARY DOG

I no longer have to wait for him to bark

before I head out the door for our walk.

He no longer yanks at the leash

or tries to take off chasing squirrels.

I bask in the pleasure of no longer

having to carry a pooper-scooper

to pick up droppings after him.

He has a perpetual smile on his face

since he knows I’ll never put him down

as I had to do with all my previous dogs.

He still likes to sleep at the foot of my bed,

and, when it gets very quiet at night,

I often hear him laughing in his dreams.

He’s as affectionate as ever, eager

to offer the unconditional love

of the very best friend I ever had.