I envy dogs

I envy dogs
and their lives

their lack of consciousness
their short, selective memories
their simple wants and needs

the way they’ve convinced us they know how to smile,
and that we want to believe them,
so we do

the way doing the same thing over and over can be the most pure distilled moment of joy

how the love we feel for them can be healing in a way no other love seemingly can
how loving them can lead to heartache that is uniquely painful

I envy dogs
and their lifespan