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.
The dVerse Poets prompt this week is a fun one: to use anthropomorphism making an animal or object behave and appear like they are human beings.” in a poem.
See the prompt and other examples here. Come join in the fun! https://dversepoets.com/
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Love it, Judy — they do try to talk to you!
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You really are allergic? I would be devastated. Good your dogs are smart enough to write poetry!
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Yes. Although I seem to be less allergic to Morrie. (Who got a haircut today and is looking chic.) I was very allergic to sweet Frida who would sneak in to sleep beside the bed and I usually let her get away with it. Morrie slept in bed with me at the beach. The minute we got home, he started pooping in the shower again, though, so he is relegated to outside again. I compensated with a long game of pool basketball with him last night and pool tennis tonight. It is so hilarious. I must get someone to take a video.
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This is the crux of it, for me:
“If you’d listen closer, perhaps you’d understand us.”
I try to do this with my own furry girlie.
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It is good that bad or misunderstood dogs get a chance to explain themselves. I wonder what is in cat food?
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Good stuff they deliberately conspire to leave out of dog food because cat owners run the world of dog food manufacturing. Conspiracy!!!
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Oh Judy….SOOOOO glad you posted for the prompt! I’m loving this! You’ve just nailed the prompt and the feelings of Morrie and Diego too! I think you should send this to a vet — or some kind of a journal about dogs……publication in the works! Especially loved
“and yet you do not take the time to learn this doggy Braille!”
So very clever!!! LOVE IT! 🙂 You’ve made me smile this morning over my morning elixir coffee.
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As you’ve made mine, Lillian. And, you’ve reminded me that the first poem I ever had published in a national publication was a poem I wrote after a bunionectomy. My doctor sent it in to the Journal of Foot Surgery and they published it. Ha!!!
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I think you’ve nailed the prompt too. You obviously really know your dogs!
Kind regards
Anna :o]
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Ha… I have actually read somewhere that cat food is good enough for humans but dog food you should beware of… Cats are very picky and would never touch the dog food. I would love to understand them better.
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This is the cutest!
My daughter’s dog prefers cat food too.
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I love your voice Judy ~ I can relate with people and their pets, though I don’t have any ~ Its funny though when we give voices to our pets – they seem just like us ~
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I can hear my dogs barking in agreement now. Love this, Judy!!
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I can, too. Literally! Must go bring them in for the night. Thanks for your comment, purplepen!
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Animals, particularly dogs have so many ways of expressing themselves – words would get in the way.
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What a doggy tale! Very clever!
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What a tale of woe – very plausible! Shame you cannot give them hugs and cuddles, though.
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Ah, I give them hugs and cuddles, but never enough. Mainly I throw the ball hundreds of times a day !!!!
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