Poetic Pooches

Dogs express themselves artistically in many ways. I mentioned yesterday that I like to paint abstracts. And of course my stand-up comedy is a type of performing art. In an earlier post I showed that some dogs have marvelous singing voices and can harmonize better than a lot of people. And the fact that I keep this blog is evidence that I enjoy writing prose, which is another art form.

"Prose," of course, means "not poetry." Not that I dislike writing poetry; I've simply never tried it. But one of my blog-pals recently reminded me that some mutts are darn good poets and sent the following dog-written lines as an example:

I lie belly-up
In the sunshine, happier than
You ever will be.

Today I sniffed
Many dog butts — I celebrate
By kissing your face.

I sound the alarm!
Paperboy — come to kill us all —
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I sound the alarm!
Garbage man — come to kill us all —
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I lift my leg and
Whiz on each bush. Hello, Spot —
Sniff this now and weep.

I hate my choke chain —
Look, world, they strangle me! Ack!
Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack!

Sleeping here, my chin
On your foot — no greater bliss — well,
Maybe catching cats.

Look in my eyes and
Deny it. No human could
Love you as I do.

Inspiring, isn't it? That beautiful poem is by a dog called "Anonymous." From the sound of the name, I'm guessing he's possibly an Ancient Greek sheepdog. But no matter what the breed, the fact is that the words reach right down into your soul and stir things up good.

I think I might like to try writing a poem sometime. Maybe I'll just do that. Stay tuned . . .