Why They Love Us

• Vanna, 1987?–1995
• Dogs love us uncomplainingly because
• They see us in a way we never do.
• They don’t have sense enough to see our flaws
• The way we fear our lovers’ fangs and claws.
• Blondi loved Hitler; Checkers, Nixon too.
• They love us uncomplainingly because
• When swatted with the news for muddy paws
• Or chewing on that Bruno Magli shoe
• They don’t have sense enough to see our flaws.
• We live by common sense and logic’s laws;
• With dogs, forget it. Even if they knew
• They love us uncomplainingly because
• They’re idiots, they still won’t drop their jaws
• And say, “Duh, you were mean to me. We’re through.”
• They don’t have sense enough to see our flaws.
• Thank god for that. A big round of applause
• For what can sniff your ass and still love you.
• Dogs love us uncomplainingly because
• They don’t have sense enough to see our flaws.

R.S. Gwynn is a master of traditional poetic forms whose poetry has been characterized as “Bleakly serious and wickedly humorous.” The poet X. J. Kennedy has called Gwynn “A wonderful satirist, a master translator, a keen observer of ironies.” Gwynn is a professor at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. His new collection, Dogwatch, was published earlier this year by Measure Press. “Why They Love Us” is a villanelle from his collection No Word of Farewell: Selected Poems 1970–2000, published by Story Line Press. The poem is reprinted by permission.