A Dark Dog Barks

A dark dog barks
                  chained to a pole
She dreams of a freedom
                  that a dog cannot know
She has a warm fire -
                   sometimes
Her person pets her - plays with her -
                    sometimes
She eats when she is fed
                    not when she is hungry
Forgotten in the cold
                    outside
                             Chained to a pole
I shrink by
           I might be hungry
                  but I eat when I can
                           I provide for myself
I might not have human love -
           - Petting -
But I have the love of my pack
          My neck is not scarred
                    by a controlling chain
My life might be shorter
         living wild and free
                    than a domesticated dog
But I am free!
I have my liberty!
My heart is not in pain
For I am controlled by me
Not by a human chain



     

Reviews

[Leslie Philibert]

Like the way you have constructed the poem, with views from outside and then shifting your position to the I form of the dog,it gives the poem a kind of question and answer structure or a view from both sides.Good work.

[R J Askew]

I love the sense of freedom in the voice. That is something I want to experience in this life.

[Audrey Howitt]

Dogs are one of my favorite subjects as is the cruelty that we inflict on animals--well executed and heartfelt work--

[Black Cat Fever]

Freedom is everything. We who use to have the most freedom don't appreciate what we had. This point brings that home..how precious freedom really is,

[Marie Harrison]

But I am free
I have my liberty
Form I am controlled by me
Not by a human chain.

Great poem!

[Star Wolf]

The wild and free wolf and the chained and sometimes comfy pet dog. Some would take the wolf's path of freedom and some would take the path of the chained pet dog and its 'comforts.' Awesome write.

[Wolf's Dark Song]

A very true poem. Freedom over comfort and protection any day. Freedom is everything, that's why so many people are willing to die for it and why everyone around the world over time has dreamed about it.