Inventory of Joy

We brought our laptops to the place
where everyone brings their laptops.
Typed a few words. Let them sit.

A teething puppy named Blue
kept chewing on my ankles
like he was trying to remind me
I have a body.
His owner apologized five times.
I kept saying, please don’t.

Molly said Blue knew I was good—
not nice, not gentle, but good,
like a storm that misses the pow…