we are teaching our puppy
the names of all her toys
as well as the signs for them
(some official ASL
some a bit made up by us)

she knows her Pizza so well
and Ring
and Smile
and sometimes she can remember Monster, Bear, and Fidget Spinner,
we’re still working on Pumpkin, Triple, Scarecrow, Blanket, and Pie,
and wherever her Ball is, she knowns that one, too

the hope is to get her to fetch each toy
by name
by silent sign
to prove how smart of a dog she is

but so far, she has simply taught us
how much she loves that
squeaky Pizza.