Unconditional

She sits on the floor in front of me eyes sparkling like moonlight off ocean waves and smiles that pumpkin-face grin that seems almost comedic this dog who lives with us like a favored child glorying in the moment no concerns of the past no worries of the future much is made of the unconditional love offered up by her kind to us the perennially love obsessed but is it unconditional when treats and upturned bellies come into play and what might she and her canine friends discuss when gathering at the groomer’s and gossiping the virus moving among us killing with medieval efficiency our modern plague demagogues and democracy or do they dwell on our casting them out into heat cold rain shine just to care for bodily needs molded by our schedules our leaving them alone while we work or play our pleasure determining when they dine do they kvetch about their lot as underdogs but now here she is guru friend lover smiling unconditionally and all is well.