Wishful Watching

By John Delaney

From the floor, he watches me strip the sheets off the bed

and follows to the hall where I put them in the washer

and turn a dial. In the kitchen, I captivate him,

washing our dirty dishes and cleaning up the table.

He’ll never thread a belt or read a novel, and yet,

as he watches me intently do these things, I wonder

if he admires that I can or regrets that he’s unable.

The world is marvelous to me as well, I tell him,

full of goings-on and doings we might wish for,

though happenstance or need insure we can’t or won’t or don’t.

But to be present and to see such feats, my buddy-pet!

You have talents, too, that I’ve observed and envy,

so don’t begrudge yourself. That others do intriguing things

is worth watching, I agree. Admire all you want but don’t regret.