A wonderful piece of dog poetry!

[RICHARD]

Listening to NPR I heard an interview with this gentleman and he read this piece...It was too touching to just post it to the "dog" section.




The Revenant - Billy Collins

I am the dog you put to sleep,
as you like to call the needle of oblivion,
come back to tell you this simple thing:
I never liked you--not one bit.

When I licked your face,
I thought of biting off your nose.
When I watched you toweling yourself dry,
I wanted to leap and unman you with a snap.

I resented the way you moved,
your lack of animal grace,
the way you would sit in a chair to eat,
a napkin on your lap, knife in your hand.

I would have run away,
but I was too weak, a trick you taught me
while I was learning to sit and heel,
and--greatest of insults--shake hands without a hand.

I admit the sight of the leash
would excite me
but only because it meant I was about
to smell things you had never touched.

You do not want to believe this,
but I have no reason to lie.
I hated the car, the rubber toys,
disliked your friends and, worse, your relatives.

The jingling of my tags drove me mad.
You always scratched me in the wrong place.
All I ever wanted from you
was food and fresh water in my metal bowls.

While you slept, I watched you breathe
as the moon rose in the sky.
It took all of my strength
not to raise my head and howl.

Now I am free of the collar,
the yellow raincoat, monogrammed sweater,
the absurdity of your lawn,
and that is all you need to know about this place

except what you already supposed
and are glad it did not happen sooner--

that everyone here can read and write,
the dogs in poetry, the cats and the others in prose.

[Karen]

Awww, Billy Collins is such a well-known poet.

Poor doggie!

[lizbud]

On a scale from 1 to 10, I give it a 0.

[mrspunkysmom]

On a scale from 1 to 10, I give it a 0.

I give it a -50!



Is this guy a PETA activist? He doesn't believe we should keep pets? That was mean. I'm not a dog person, but I can tell you that of those I've met, none didn't want to be my companion. This guy needs a genuine hug more than I do.

[mrspunkysmom]

Listening to NPR I heard an interview with this gentleman and he read this piece...It was too touching to just post it to the "dog" section.


Richard, a question if I may. Why do you think this poem is wonderful? And why was it touching?

At first I thought lizbud was being mean (which I couldn't understand) or made a typo, but after I read the awful mean poem, I understood lizbud's reaction.

I'm not trying to start something, but I really need to know.

Perhaps this could be moved to the DogHouse, where Billy Collins apparently belongs?

[RICHARD]

Richard, a question if I may. Why do you think this poem is wonderful? And why was it touching?

At first I thought lizbud was being mean (which I couldn't understand) or made a typo, but after I read the awful mean poem, I understood lizbud's reaction.

I'm not trying to start something, but I really need to know.

Perhaps this could be moved to the DogHouse, where Billy Collins apparently belongs?

Well, I cried when I heard it.

It was sad and wonderful from the standpoint of a dog.

Apparently, no one who 'rated' the post can see that it's a HUGE EFF YOU from the dog to the people who 'think' they know what is the best for their pets.

When I see 'pet lovers' that over think THEIR mastery of a dog, I want to kick them.

It's just a poem. Grab a grip of something and take a chill pill.

I think I am going to go kiss Tucker on the lips.

BTW, I said it was touching - not "wonderful", I already have enough feces coming out of my mouth for people to put more in.

[mrspunkysmom]

Well, I cried when I heard it.

It was sad and wonderful from the standpoint of a dog.

Apparently, no one who 'rated' the post can see that it's a HUGE EFF YOU from the dog to the people who 'think' they know what is the best for their pets.

When I see 'pet lovers' that over think THEIR mastery of a dog, I want to kick them.

It's just a poem. Grab a grip of something and take a chill pill.

I think I am going to go kiss Tucker on the lips.

BTW, I said it was touching - not "wonderful", I already have enough feces coming out of my mouth for people to put more in.

The EFF You part I got. But when I think of pet lovers or other owners, I try to think of positives. Yes, I know there are many that don't think about their relationship with the dog.

And this poem didn't address any particular segment of the population. It addressed all owners. And it speaks of pure hatred of man by dog.

Only people hate other people.

I'm going to chill now. The weather is a bit warm though.

[RICHARD]

The EFF You part I got. But when I think of pet lovers or other owners, I try to think of positives. Yes, I know there are many that don't think about their relationship with the dog.

And this poem didn't address any particular segment of the population. It addressed all owners. And it speaks of pure hatred of man by dog.

Only people hate other people.

I'm going to chill now. The weather is a bit warm though.

Ojos miran, corazones? No.

[mrspunkysmom]

My heart and vision are fine, thank you.

[Bonny]

Sometimes I do wonder what the animals think about us humans? If they could only speak. But then we probably wouldn't want to hear what they would have to say.:eek:

When I call the dogs in for their foot & belly washes after a walkies through the mud & wet grass I sometimes wonder what they are thinking. I know what I am thinking. If you want to come into my house you aren't bringing in a bunch of mud onto my clean floors. So lets get with it gang & line up. NOW!

Missy is the last one to get washed she will always stay as far away as possible & not come when I call her. It is like catch me if you can old lady. Ha! Ha! I'll come when I darn well please.

In the mean time the two boys Baxter & Max are willing at the doggie wash to get cleaned off & I even have a special dry towel to dry them off. Content boys they are.

When Missy does decide to come for her doggie wash , I can feel this announce she has & by the look in her eyes, if looks could kill. I am gentle with her picking each foot up getting the mud off, washing under her belly & neck. Then there is the towel drying. After that all seems fine with her.