Best Dog Poems
If I wasn't there,
the rain swollen clouds
would have still dumped
their dark weight over the bay
and through a gaping tear,
let down a curtain of sunlight
to start the day.
And if I wasn't there,
the old, arthritic labrador
would have still waddled
along the street
with its bent but steady gait,
undistracted, self absorbed
and fixed in its own stare
that allowed no deviation
from years of devoted plod.
The morning had no need
for me, what happened
would have happened anyway.
There's an annoying sadness
in knowing the earth
doesn't seem to care
if things pass unnoticed.
Sunsets and waterfalls
carry no favor.
To it, the achingly beautiful
and the catastrophic can
happily go unreported.
And yet I still ask -
what's the point -
and entertain the notion
that the universe has this
innate and unfathomable need
for a witness
to take in Creations
unfolding riddle
and make it fit together.
I could be wrong,
but for each of us,
the privilege of being here
on this gifted earth,
to understand, care for
and tell its story in song
fulfills a purpose,
if only to this end -
or something more.
Asteroid
You were out of this world
named for the Perseids
the meteor
that exploded in two striking the blue
between the sun and the moon
the massive spark an exclamation mark
that punctuated perfectly my
“hey we’re going to see some awesome...”
fireworks tonight and
a week later
Gravity
led me to you
all arctic and wolfy
all wild and white
a firecracker alright
You were out of this world
a brilliant light in my life for
fourteen years
Graced
after you died
I learned a meteor
had streaked
that very same sky
the same day
my gift from the heavens
the heavens reclaimed
Asteroid 2000-2014
8.13.2020
Composed for Constance La France’s
All Pets Go To Heaven Poetry Contest
He stood on the street corner
Having a much needed smoke
Somehow we got chatting
And he told me a joke
And i started laughing
The way that you do
He looked at me smiling
And started laughing too
And his dog laughed too.
It became a habit
Ever after that
Every morning I’d stop
For a little chat
And listen to any joke
That he would tell
His supply seemed endless
And he told them so well
And his dog laughed too.
One day I saw the dog
Out with another guy
So I said hello to him
And I asked him why.
He said he was standing in
His dad had had a stroke
So I sent my best wishes
And I really missed his joke
And his dog just looked sad.
I asked about him every day
Was told he was improving
Was chafing at the bit to
Get his recovery moving.
I was so pleased to hear
Of progress like that
For I really missed
His joke and our chat
And his dog looked optimistic.
Then one day I saw him back
Standing there having a smoke
I bid him a good to see you
I’ve missed your daily joke.
We both laughed uproariously
As he told me his latest one
And the dog wagged his tail
All signs of sadness gone
And his dog laughed too.
Let us curry favor in dog star's
splendid laughing light
bring the crash of passion's waves
through two arms held tight.
I carry your wishes in love's
knapsack, strapped close
in tomorrow's hope
fashioned in new dawn's
golden charms.
Bring empathy in touch
understanding where
once was none, gone
in sorrow's parting.
Grant me true sight
unbridled, like a child's
reaching song..
your gleam in smile.
Rein in gallop of
heartbeat hooves
grant me sleep
so I may dream.
Every time you look at me
Brown eyes say, "I love you"
When you're lying next to me
Your snuggle says it too
That soft brown skin's inviting smell
I pull you to me tighter
I hope you know, somehow can tell
You make my days much brighter
So playfully, you steal a kiss
Like a child, I wipe my face
What have I done to feel such bliss
This gift of "amazing grace"
Each day you show me in some way
The meaning of true love
For you my friend, each night I pray
And thank The Lord above.
for my dog friend, Buddy:)
by Daniel Turner
I stand before you after all these years
Amid the ocean brine with misty tears
On these old banks above the Fundy Bay
With all those words I never got to say
Wild daisies spread themselves across your grave
Where lies the fallen marker that I made
When I was but a child and new to death
In grief so deep it nearly took my breath
That broken house still sits above the bay
Now weathered by those many stormy days
Those years we walked along that rocky shore
Those years you saw me safely to my door
And now that I am old I do believe
You were an angel sent by God to me
...
In Loving Memory
Written: February 2nd, 2016
In my life, I’ve had about five . . . . . . . . . . . DOGS
What naughty chewing little beasts they . . . ARE
Nonetheless, I still think they are . . . . . . . . .COOL;
However, I’ve had twice as many . . . . . . . .. CATS
Independent, sweet and clean they usually . . ARE
For that, I find cats to be just a tad bit. . . . COOLER
Written Aug. 2015 for the "End Line Word" Poetry contest of HGarvey Daniel Esquire
I watched a dog fight back the sea
to chase a ball thrown on the surf
it sensed no danger unlike me
when I chased young dreams on this earth.
at some point in reality
against those waves I lost my nerve
I blame my personality
respecting nature's tides since birth.
and now that dog's just running free
- its ball retrieved with canine verve
despite a law that it should be
restrained by harness round its girth.
As the
story
goes...
A
pesky
fly,
came buzzing by
to rest and munch
and eat his lunch
and have some fun
on the hound dog's
nose.
The old dog
snoozed
without a clue
in the noontime heat
of the August
sun.
He
napped
awhile
by piles of leaves
in dappled shade
of the apple tree,
where an apple fell
and the flies said "yum"
and the bees would hum
and the dog would yawn.
That lazy bone
won't fetch a stick,
or scratch his neck
or care a lick
about a neighbor's cat,...
That ornery
brat
will prance around,
will tease and taunt
the weary hound,
who naps so sound
on
this
dog- day
afternoon.
Hound has no pep
to take a step
to chase
or race
that snooty
cat,
who
smugly rubs
against his back,
and sticks her nose
up to his snout,
and
sticks up her tail
sashays about.
He hardly cares
that she is there.
She preens and cleans
her own black spots,
She stares at him
he stares right back,
with one eye open,
one eye shut
He'll stretch a bit
and scratch a lot
but it's too
hot
to
chase
that
cat...
Don't
bat
your
eyes..
it's
not a lie.
So
what
do
you
think
of
that?
_________________________________
Our sweet dog Holly lies under our tree
She is wagging her tail so gleefully,
Knocking about the light Christmas tree balls.
She becomes quite shocked as one of them falls.
Holly thinks her gifts are ribbons and bows
She chews them and hides them, where?, no one knows.
Holly loves to romp in fresh fallen snow.
Her happy dark eyes just twinkle and glow.
Her cute black face is covered like frosting
While chasing a rabbit she's accosting .
She has a good canine friend named Jessie.
Holly and Jesse's paws get quite messy.
After their long frisky walk in the park
Holly gets tired from her Christmas lark.
When dinner completes her desire,
She loves to keep cozy by our log fire.
Holly is content with pats on her head,
Then snuggles to sleep at foot of my bed.
12-18-17
Christmas Story Contest
Sponsor Eve Roper
*This is a tribute to a very good friend's two dogs,
Holly and Jessie, who reside in England.
Merry Christmas to everyone!
Early Morn On The Old Farm
tomcat cat fast asleep
new house painted darkest of greens
old sun drenched, low-weeping willow
young black dog awakens
eager dawn, stretches its new legs
(1.) (living scene), no rhyme
Robert J. Lindley, 3-17-2000
New Poetry form, Lind68868
(1.) (living scene), no rhyme
***********************
New poetry form Lind68868
New poetry form: Must describe either 1. a living scene (one that is poetically possible to see), 2. a comparative thought, 3. or a dream.
Poem must list which of the three- this example is number 1.
Poem must have a Title
Syllable count must be 6,8,8,6,8
Must be 5 lines of verse.
May be rhymed or written with no rhyme
Note:
Yesterday, I found 6 of these poems in this new poetry form I created, written on a single page in one of my old poetry journals.
I was born into a world that does not see me.
My body tells the story of absence;
The hollow of my stomach,
The jagged outline of my ribs,
My fur, patchy and damp.
I learned quickly that to want is to be ignored,
And to ache is to exist.
As a puppy, I thought someone might see me.
I thought if I wagged my tail hard enough,
If I tilted my head just right,
The world might open its hands.
But it did not.
It only ever closed its fists,
Turned its back,
And left me with scraps,
Too spoiled to taste.
Now I roam alleys slick with rain,
My nose pressed against the cold pavement.
The air sharp with the tang of rust,
The faint sweetness of a bruised apple
Rotting in the dark.
Even the light avoids me
Street Lamps flicker,
Shadows curl against my skin,
Like they, too, are ashamed.
I am no monster,
Though that's how the world perceives me.
I am just a dog that takes up too much space,
Whose hunger speaks louder than it ever should.
And yet, I keep searching.
I follow the smell of bread I will never taste,
The sound of footsteps I will never reach.
I chase voices that don't belong to me,
Hoping they might turn and see me,
Hoping they might call for me.
They do not.
So I sit beneath a streetlamp that sputters and hums,
And I imagine what it would feel like,
To have the weight of a hand on my head,
The sound of love spoken softly in the dark,
A belly heavy with food,
The sharp edges of my ribs fading into softness.
I close my eyes and imagine,
And for a moment,
I am full.
On a stone wall, by the solitary pavement,
Annoyed and angry, with daggers drawn at everyone,
I saw my neighbor sitting dejected and depressed.
Though known him for years, of late he has changed much.
His eyes had grown so cold, and his mind, so blank.
His vision, I felt was blurred by a hazy mist.
He was seen with his gaze fixed at the horizon far,
Like a block of stone, hardly noticing anyone, he sat.
From a distance, came a barking sound,
It was from his dog that followed its master’s trail.
Seeing a rodent, behind a wild bush
The dog was barking nonstop on and on
The mangy animal was once so loved,
Now left wantonly uncared and unattended.
With incessant bark it was disturbing the calm around.
This greatly irked the man, otherwise annoyed.
Instant was his response and rash, his action.
Picking up a stone and aiming at the dog,
He hurled the stone with all his might,
And sad! It hit hard on his target.
Oppressively hurt by the whizzing stone,
The dog twitched and yelled in pain.
Licking its wound, it ran round and round,
Along the concrete path, mad and wild.
At last, slowing down and turning its direction
Towards its master, it moved fast.
Petrified, on an impulse, he jumped down,
And fearing the worst, he closed his eyes.
But wagging its tail with a pleading look
It began licking its master’s hand.
The hand so rude that clutched the stone,
And had flung at it, causing it to bleed.
It was a gesture too deep for words,
That taught the man the lesson of love:
Love others with every broken piece
Even after someone breaks one's heart.
After years, it remains the best example
Of forgiveness, I have ever seen and assimilated.
It helps me forget all bitterness towards my enemies,
Teaching me the lesson not to curse but to bless them.
I feel it was a message sent down from Heaven,
The most powerful of all sermons so far delivered.
By forgiving our enemies, one can unload the baggage,
And save our wretched lives from serious wreckage!
Shakespearean Sonnet
I remember the day I picked you,
With your sweet little puppy dog eyes.
For my heart was searching for love too,
When I looked down and heard your soft cries.
Your brothers and sisters were running,
They were after a fallen clothes peg,
But there was a puppy so stunning
Trying hard to get up on my leg.
Four years it has been since that moment
And I thank God daily for his gift
Each day you give me such enjoyment
Your love has given my heart a lift.
Today I know as clear as can be,
I didn’t pick you; rather you picked me.
Written by Brenda Meier-Hans
11.26.2014
Sponsor Shadow Hamilton
Contest: Pets
2nd
A dachshund named Oscar was he,
which adored trick or treating with me,
so I had me some fun
when I sewed a cloth bun,
for a Halloween weenie he’d be.
On his costume I added a trim
mustard yellow, but though he’s not slim,
he’s no Oscar Mayer,
so don’t raise his ire
by taking a bite out of him!