Ulysses In The Park

I took Ulysses to the park
Because he’s an inside dog
And needs exercise.
I threw the tennis ball,
He dutifully retrieved it,
Dropped it at my feet and looked up
As if to say, “I prefer nurture
Over nature. You know I watch
Educational television with you.”
I threw the ball again.
Ulysses rolled his eyes  
Went and fetched.
Returning, he dropped the ball
At my feet, then gazed
Up as if to say,
“I totally get the whole
Pavlovian response,
But I would rather
Discuss Theogony,  
the genealogy and  
origin of Greek gods.
Or, I am particularly  
Interested in physics, and
How energy is the property  
That must be transferred  
To an object in order to perform  
Work on – or to heat – the object,  
And can be converted in form,  
But not created or destroyed.”
So, I put the tennis ball aside,
Sat down in grass next to Ulysses.
He looked enthusiastically  
Into my eyes as I asked him,  
“If heaven is a perfect place,  
How do you suppose Satan  
Got there to rebel against God?”
Ulysses was just about to answer  
When movement caught his eye.
He glanced away briefly,
Looked back at me desperately
Wanting to stay, then said,
“Damn it!” Turned and ran off  
Barking, chasing after a squirrel