Today they chose my suggestion for the daily prompt! It was: Return Address—Yesterday, your pet/baby/inanimate object could read your post. Today, they can write back (thanks for the suggestion, lifelessons!). Write a post from their point of view (or just pick any non-verbal creature/object).
If you’d like to see the letter the below post answers, please go here.
Finally, A Voice!!
(A Letter from Two Bad (Misunderstood) Dogs)
Do you think it’s simple, giving voice to our demands
without the proper vocal chords, without your human hands?
Everytime we try to talk, you scold us and you hush us,
even though you’ve just admitted that our howls are luscious.
And lacking proper fingers, we cannot write you letters.
We aren’t given proper tools to address our “betters.”
Simply howls and growls and barks and waggings of the tail—
and yet you do not take the time to learn this doggy Braille!
If you’d listen closer, perhaps you’d understand us.
Instead you shout out, “Stop!” and “Hush!” and seek to countermand us.
Can’t you understand that we’re protecting you from prowlers?
Feral cats and owls and skunks and nearby canine howlers?
We have such curiosity, though you determine to balk us.
We wouldn’t have to rush the gate if you’d take time to walk us!
We have to climb up on the roof to get a worldly view.
We wouldn’t be there barking if you’d take us out with you!
As for the cat food, take a clue. The reason we adore it
Is ‘cause it’s smelly, wet and luscious. Dog food? We abhor it!
That cat leaves a bit to tempt us—it’s a cruel feline game!
So why not buy us cat food? It costs you just the same.
And now the final agony. The ultimate tragic hitch,
Not only can our mom not cook, but now we make her itch!
No wonder our neuroses include jostling for attention.
A mother who can’t touch us? This escaped your earlier mention.
We thought you didn’t like us so we tried to win your favor.
Your touch is what we long for even more than cat food’s savor.
And as for pooping in the yard, you never told us to
sneak behind the garden shed to have our little poo.
You seem to think we know these things, but where would we have learned?
It’s you who should have taught us, for obedience must be earned.
If you would spend more time with us, perhaps you’d finally see
there is no other creature with whom we would rather be.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Congrats on getting picked! Diego and Frida, I love those names.
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Frida came long before Diego, but when he picked me (wandered into my doctor’s waiting room, cased out everyone and zeroed right in on the most vulnerable) it was an even draw between Diego and Diablo for awhile. Then I decided Diego covered them both! I was surprised, but glad to have a chance to look at things through my housemates’ eyes. Can the cats be far behind? One moved out and in with the neighbors. Now there’s a story!
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Your poem was a wonderful way to start my day, Judy! My Joey-Doodle lays at my feet sleeping and I feel guilty, now that I understand “his language” through the voices of your two “misunderstood” dogs! 😀 Congratulations!
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Nice reading…. connected with it as only a dog lover can! 🙂 And congrats on being picked for the daily prompt!
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I loved the metaphysical poets: Herrick, Herbert and Donne. Give me a conceit any old day. Stretching a metaphor is a game of sorts. An illustrious article, Mark. Judy
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hey, sorry i missed this prompt i was ‘polishing’ the new chapter, which is up now. i’ll have to figure something to write and link back here, maybe this week or next.
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Okay, I’ll accept your new chapter as down payment on a new post…Judy
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well judy, it took me awhile but think i’m paid in full now!
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I caught onto the line about the itching. I have the same problem, due to all of the poison ivy around my area. I keep Dawn dishwashing detergent in the bathroom and wash my hands with it after every petting session. That gets the poison ivy off my hands. With my bigger, furrier dog (now gone), I had to wear dishwashing gloves to pet him, because I couldn’t get him upstairs to bathe him.
I adore that comical picture. Tongue out, tail wagging “did’ja buy cat food for us today, Mummy, huh? did’ja, did’ja?”
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Obedience must be earned..Best dog line ever!
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Thanks, Mary. Every time you comment on an old post, I go back and read them and it is like reading them for the first time. You are an archivist of sorts!
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Sometimes I can’t remember if I’ve already written about something and have to go back and read. It’s kind of fun.
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Does it sometimes feel as though someone else wrote it?
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It really does, and I haven’t been blogging very long. How were the Bossarts? I probably spelled that wrong. I think we’re going to see Patti and Jim in Arizona!
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Great! They love to have company and are good hosts. Karen and Susan remembered Billy and you..but thought Paula was much older than you. How do you remember her?
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I thought you told me Paula was closest to my age. I’ll find the photo I have and email it to you. It may not be who I think it is.
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Yes she is the youngest..How old are you now.. or in lieu of that, how much younger than I am?
They think Paula was a year younger than me.
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My comment went away. I will be 65 on 12/31
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I emailed the photo to you.
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I’m 64. I will be 65 in December. I’ll have to hunt a little for the pic, but it will tell us.
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Ohhh, really, you are allergic to both dogs and cats! 😮 Then it’s extra kind of you to take care of them. They can feel it too, I’m sure. ❤
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