Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Playing With Puppies

A fellow blogger commented on my last post: “I order you to go play with puppies this instant!” I suspect there may be some implication here that recent Yoga for Cynics posts have, perhaps, indicated a somewhat introverted, depressed and/or generally out-there state of mind. Could be. As a shrink once said, after an hour in which I'd brilliantly subverted her every attempt at introducing a more positive outlook, “it’s rough inside your head!” Point taken.

And yet, alas, I have no puppies at hand. Nonetheless, here’s a picture of my good friend Fargo, who's moved to Colorado, so I don’t get to play with him much these days.
It's nearly impossible to do yoga around Fargo, and he's anything but a cynic. That has not, however, kept me from writing fragments of an epic poem about him, collectively known as the Fargo Cantos (imaginary gardens with real dogs in them), including the following:

Because I could not stop for Fargo—
he kindly jumped up –
and got mud all over my pants


and:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and Fargo—
He kinda ran back and forth between them, like a maniac.
And that has made all the difference

and who could forget:

What happens to a dog deferred?

Does he curl up
like a pillow on the couch?
Or growl and snarl
like Oscar the grouch?
Does he slobber on your knee
Like a leaky hose?
Or whine, bark and puke
right on your toes?
Maybe he just slumps down
on his furry butt

Or does he go nuts?

or:

Fargo! Fargo! Barking bright,
In the backyards of the night,
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

Apologies to Ezra Pound, Marianne Moore, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, and William Blake. And thanks to April for the pic, and to Dano MacNamarrah for a lovely blog award that I can't figure out how to paste into this post (so it's in the sidebar).

21 comments:

Lana Gramlich said...

I can sympathize with some of that poetry. I wrote a couple of poems dedicated to my husky years ago, myself. He was such a character!
I still recommend playing with puppies, though. Even if nothing's wrong. I think everyone should go play with puppies at least once a month. I go to the local pet stores for my own fix. They even make a good day better, so it's win-win, regardless! :)
Thanks for the comment on my painting, btw. Glad you like it!

Yogamum said...

Awesome poetry. Thanks for the chuckle!

vast.tv said...

I do so adore the Fargo Cantos. A funny coincidence...Ijust went to find them on my computer the other day and recited "two roads diverged" about seventeen times. Such a tribute...and so apt...he would appreciate it, if he could.

Anonymous said...

two roads diverged indeed. :D fargo looks rather adorable. :)

Anonymous said...

* Hugs *
Got any cat poetry as well as your Fargo stuff? I love both versions of the common household pet. They rock!

Lydia said...

It might be ruff ruff inside your head but you're a guhboy to make me smile. :)

Anonymous said...

your fargo poems make me giggle :)

guess it's not too rough in the head of dr. jay

thanks for the always welcome diversion from work

*peace

Kim said...

I love the epic poem!

kw said...

Your poetry, like Fargo, is sweet!

I had a bugger of a time with the award image. John D had to talk me through it!

I managed to get it onto a post, by bumbling around for a bit. Much like a photo, you can upload the image from your files.

Right click and save image. When you've done that, look in Finder/Desktop to see where it is. Then, say if it's in "Pictures", you click the image tool at the top of your post.

Then you plug in, say, User/Desktop/Picture/. It may tell you that the file something or other cannot be verified. Ignore that, click on upload again, and your files will pop up. Click over to the jpg. and press "open".

In theory, this should work! I'm sure there's a better way to do it, but I tend to the endless trial and errors of one who knows diddly about computers!

Good luck, D

Rhiannon said...

Thanks for dropping by my blog recently. I'm reading a few of your post and am rather spellbound with your writing, "intensity" and your brute honesty in being just who you are..hooray!

I'll be back soon to check our more.

Blessings,

Rhiannon

Anonymous said...

I thought the shrink's comment was kind of funny. My sister let me listen to the ringtone she has for me today. I'd never heard the song before but apparently it's a song about a woman who is completely negative about herself. Milly says, "It automatically made me think of you."

I don't deny I'm negative on myself. Do I want that as my theme song? No.

Janet said...

Fargo is one of my favorite movies and it's much darker than your poems. I'll poke around some more and see what other goodies you have to offer. Thanks for the shout on my blog too, by the way.

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

no apology was needed - I liked it :)

Ed T. said...

The Two Roads thing is hilarious! My dog is definitely a maniac as well. What about Yoga and cats though?

Gypsy at Heart said...

I can't imagine what that shrink saw Jay. I think it is lovely inside your head. Like one of those beautiful Winslow Homer paintings of the seas. Just beautiful. On top of that, you do something that Homer never did for me. You make me laugh.

The Chili thing has nothing to do with Texas. I lived in DC for most of my life. It has to do with my ability to say these two words: Gourmand AND Cooking. I self-style myself the first and claim some knowledge of the second. Have always preferred the chili I've made myself.

a mouthy irish woman? ridiculous! said...

sometimes we just need a hug and for someone to say "you are a good person".

Anonymous said...

I agree 100% with a mouthy Irish-catholic woman. Wow that's a mouth full. Lol. Even being happily engaged I still thrive off the love I get from my pets. My suggestion to anyone in the world that never felt the love of a pet is to give it a whirl and I promise you won't be disappointed.

RiverSoul said...

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Silent recollections Blog.
Do visit again.
:)
Thankyou.

Lydia said...

Jay, congratulations on a thoughtful review of your blog over at Do You Digg It (Sept. 11 - just saw it!).

RBV said...

I can't speak for them, but I don't think the apologies are needed. I love the poems! Heh.

A shrink once told me "It's dark in there." Would I rather be rough or dark? Hmmm.

AD Miller said...

I don't think anything will ever describe Fargo's unique blend of frenetic-but-lovable energy quite like The Fargo Cantos. I am sure I'll continue to appreciate that tribute long after he is gone, which I hope is a long, long way away! He's certainly helped me through some rough patches in my life and I am so glad to know that you, too, have benefited from his unique brand of puppy therapy. Maybe I could get that service dog certificate for him after all and bring him on planes without resorting to calling him my hirsute little brother . . .