I watched you today by the lamppost
as you reached down to untie
the leash of our black lab
dancing and shaking
with such excitement upon
your return
you took his face into your hands
and gently massaged his ears
he calmed, gazing into
your face with such
love and devotion
you did not see me
as I slipped away
today
yesterday
and the
day before
because if you had
you would have known
I, too, once loved you
like that
missing the mom gene
missing the mom gene