The Company of Dogs

Those who don't speak, speak better.

I met a dog one quiet day,

And spoke to him, at first as a joke,

Forgetting how much he could understand me.

He replied in his own language,

But I knew the intent was intelligent,

So I spoke to him as an equal from then on.

We walked through the woods together,

And sat by the creek for a while.

We became friends,

Though, being less perceptive than him,

I did not understand a word he said.

What is language to us?

Why do we prefer animals to other humans we don't understand?

Is it not enough to sit in each other's quiet company?

To know each other in deed instead of word?

The walker told us that words worth speaking

Need space to grow to their full size.

If our words are not this big,

Need they be spoken?

I suppose small words bring happiness to some,

And that is good,

But they only frustrate me.

Perhaps while other humans grow closer with little speech,

I will leave them to their bonding,

And I will seek the company of dogs.

Reviews

[Ken e Bujold]

Synchronicity at its finest: I just literally finished reading a book on the domestication of dogs. One of the more lasting takeaways from the reading was that dogs display a greater understanding and intuitiveness of human needs than humans do. Then I happen upon your poem which infers exactly that. Love the read Earth

ken

[Earthrise]

That's awesome timing, Ken! Thanks for telling me about it.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

I love dogs
This is a beautiful tribute to our four legged best friends!!!

[Stella Armour]

Dogs can understand more than they are given credit for , if you are sad your dog
will pick up on it and be sad too, see how he runs in circles when you are both happy :)
A lovely tribute to man's best friends

[Earthrise]

Thank you so much, Stella!

[Stella Armour]

My pleasure ..

[Dave Brown]

have always had a dog
They are wonderful things
couldn't do without
Our current companion barely makes a sound but he makes his intensions very well known by just using his eyes

[Earthrise]

Thank you for your review, Dave, and for telling me about your dog. Sometimes silent communication is the most powerful.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I enjoyed reading this and I'm not even a keeper of pets. I used to feed table scraps a neighbor's dog and he would visit often. And I'd pet him. He was old and very dirty and wouldn't come inside, even on the coldest day. But he would let me pet him and lay his head in my lap. One night I heard him barking and went outside to see what was wrong and there were two strangers walking down our street. He sat on our porch and growled at them. The neighbor moved but I think the dog had passed away before then. He was old and dirty but a good friend.

[Earthrise]

This story reminds me of a tick-ridden cat that used to live in my neighborhood. He was covered in bites, so he hated to be touched anywhere but on his head. So, whenever I saw him, I pet him on his head. I always liked seeing that cat, and although he didn't bond as easily as your dog friend, I think he liked seeing me, too.

Thanks for reading and reviewing, Fabian.

[Vertigo Cat1111]

Dogs are just brilliant- perceptive, sweet little creatures. Anyone who hasn’t seen a pet and an owner play are the people who say dogs don’t love. I always love a poem about animals or dogs, but I particularly liked this one. It threw you for a loop and asked things you normally didn’t think about and made me think, for sure. I was fascinated by the stanzas about words growing of being too small to speak. I never thought of it that way, but really related to that sentiment. If our words are so small, what’s it matter to some of us if we just never say them? Thank you so much for sharing such a delightful piece.

[Earthrise]

Thank you so much! I find that animals are always good subjects to write about. They often give us an ideal to strive towards. As for the thing about words needing space, I have to give Thoreau credit for that one. But thank you for your kind review. Comments like these always keep me going.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Dogs make more sense and are more honest than most humans...
I just happen to love dogs...and seem to get along with most.
Maybe I have a dog mind, so they like me.
I love the humility in this...being less perceptive than the pup...
I guess my question is whether or not you adopted this dog, if it was a stray?
I have a cat, and she is honest...all she knows is to love the person who feeds her and cleans her box...
simple...simple is good.
your poetry is so thoughtful.
j.

[Earthrise]

Thank you, J. I find that most people assume they're better than animals, so I think it's important to stay humble in their presence. They're smarter than we give them credit for, and more pure than we are.

It's a good thing to have a dog mind. I hope I have one too. As always, thank you for your kind words.