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That Old Dog

That big black dog s behind me He's breathing down my neck Hes got me staring through the cracks I know he's got me tracked He knows my little weaknesses And all my aching flaws He stops the sun from shining and trips me up at doors He makes me feel I'm small and lost Yet won't leave me alone And though he leaves me starving For him I have a bone That old black dog he's restless He's biting at my heels He wants to make a meal of me He's got me on my knees That black dog he has me beat He has my head in tatters He rags me in his drooling jaws and spits me on the street But my old dog he's faithful and I keep him by my side For though I know he holds me back I match him stride for stride For without him I would not be whole I wouldn't be complete My fears and flaws are part of me make up the being of my soul I must learn to live with me and with my black dog To live for just this moment See the sunshine through the smog But I must remember who is master Is it me or is it dog?

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Laura Breidenthal

Date: 3/17/2016 2:46:00 AM

One thing that strikes me about this poem is that this dog could represent a number of things. At first I thought of the devil, then depression, then anxiety, and then flaws. Another thing I likedwas that the narrator is not bitter of its presence and instead aknowledges the fact that this dog is part of him or her. Im adding this to my favorites! Always, Laura

Zoe Orrell
Date: 3/18/2016 11:11:00 AM

That's something about depression I've come to realise as i get older,I can't change whats happened to me ,or the state of the world ,but I can change how I deal with it.Thanks so much guys for your warm welcomes x

Laura Breidenthal

Date: 3/17/2016 2:45:00 AM

This definitely caught my attention... it's thought-provoking and unique Zoe. There are many memorable lines here...I like, "And though he leaves me starving, For him I have a bone" and those last few lines are powerful as well. You are brilliant! I think one step in mastering the dog is aknowledging it is there, which was executed well in this deeply spiritual verse.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/14/2016 1:36:00 PM

- Thank you for your first poem, Zoe :) - I welcome you to Poetry Soup :) - Hope you will find our "soup" friendly and fun - Good luck :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Skat A

Date: 3/12/2016 10:16:00 PM

Zoe, Welcome to Poetry Soup. It will be a delight to read and become familiar with your poems in the future. As for now, I will greet you with the same smile others passed when I first joined the soup. Wishing you and your poetry the best. I hope you get to meet all the nice poets around here STARTING with me- SKAT :-) Please drop a hello and tell me a little about yourself if you wish. I would like to be your newest poetry soup "FRIEND" Hugs* SKAT

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 3/7/2016 12:04:00 PM

Well done... This is a great first post...Linda