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The Hounds Are Barking Still

My slumber knows no measure...
There be no sleep for me.
The hounds are barking through the night
For immortality.

I toss them a leg of hubris
And a banal cliche for slight effect.
But their hunger goes unsated...
I lay waste my self-respect.

A few platitudes and twaddle
Are quickly gobbled by the beasts.
I make an honest effort at contrition
To give aid to my relief.

But my words of self-castration
Seem to energize the hounds.
I further try to appease and quantify...
But I'm losing precious ground.

I prostrate a harried confession.
My delusive sins are now a flood.
The wolf stands menacingly astride my door...
The beast has tasted blood.

Again... I apologize now threefold times
Using paper, pad and quill.
But it matters not to feed the beasts...
The hounds are barking still.

              The End

*Follow my cartoon at Webtoon Bob's Your Uncle.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Romios Avatar
September 26, 2021 at 9:38 AM
I am blinded by your brightness, A star in my sky you are.. Yours, Pamgie
Bianco Avatar
August 29, 2021 at 2:09 AM
Fantastic write David, best I've read in a long while.. hopefully the beasts will soon start devouring each other. Best wishes, Anthony
Leiser Avatar
July 23, 2021 at 7:50 PM
Excellent, brilliantly insightful! Loved this!
Radhakrishna Avatar
July 23, 2021 at 12:07 PM
That is a brilliant poem! Should have won POTD!! Congrats on the top win!!! Fully deserved!
Drowley Avatar
July 22, 2021 at 1:54 PM
David, Excellent write. Congratulations on your win!
Rodrigues Avatar
July 22, 2021 at 3:39 AM
Congratulations on your top win, David!
Daniel Avatar
July 22, 2021 at 12:05 AM
Great metaphor used, David, congratulations on top spot win:)
Balasubramanian Avatar
July 21, 2021 at 11:43 PM
Congrats on your top win
Johnson Avatar
July 21, 2021 at 11:15 PM
Hi David. Congrats on your well deserve top placement. I love this piece. It speaks straight to the heart. Blessing.
Alex Avatar
July 21, 2021 at 10:48 PM
The hounds are barking still - is a great symbol of all the poignant realities. Historically as well as realistically, the poem has a great place. Congratulations!
Agustin Avatar
July 21, 2021 at 9:43 PM
Congrats! Thanks for sharing this grim reality... in your excellent poetic style. God bless you.
Mcintosh Avatar
July 21, 2021 at 4:03 PM
Wonderful writing. Congrats on your top win!!! God bless you friend. Love, Gina
Romios Avatar
July 7, 2021 at 2:14 PM
Wonderful verses David! I don’t take freedom lightly. Nor brain waning the USA. For me, it’s dire and sinful and far from a joke. To apologigize for my hertage! May they all go up in smoke. Boo on the Teachers union who backed this. This is neither Stalingrad nor Wuhan Wake up poets! Best wishes David. Why not use real names! The USA is asleep as the train plunges over a cliff. A tragedy. Surely other countries will cheer our freedoms loss. Why does not one poet say it! Why?9 Pangi
Laurie Avatar
June 29, 2021 at 5:23 PM
Hello David … no matter what we do, the hounds are waiting impatiently to keep grinding us into the ground. A great poem David - Lindsay
Lamoureux Avatar
June 24, 2021 at 6:43 AM
What a delicious write. So entertaining and well expressed. In years to come this should become a classic. Bravo!
Wolf Avatar
June 23, 2021 at 6:25 PM
McEdgar Allan McHattie, that is one mighty fine piece. ~ Evermore, gw
Alex Avatar
June 22, 2021 at 10:20 PM
Supurb.
Mchattie Avatar
June 23, 2021 at 5:33 PM
Thank you so much.
Hankins Avatar
June 22, 2021 at 7:27 PM
Superb writing, David. I enjoyed your poem from beginning to end. Sometimes it does seem no matter what you do "the hounds are barking still." Metaphor?
Mchattie Avatar
June 23, 2021 at 5:33 PM
I think it's like the red scare in the 50's. They will over reach and even the media will have to swat them down. Until then. Hang on to your hat... it's going to be a bumpy ride. Stay well my friend.
Lawless Avatar
June 22, 2021 at 6:32 PM
NOBODY EXPECTS ANOTHER INQUISITION.....you can't appease the hounds
Romios Avatar
September 26, 2021 at 9:40 AM
To John..we are in an imquistion Where have you been. Pangie
Mchattie Avatar
June 23, 2021 at 5:30 PM
I don't know why people even try. Nothing good comes of it. Have a great day.
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