Friday, January 30, 2009

Poetry Friday -- The Dog Wish


Man
is troubled
by what might be called
the Dog Wish,
a strange and involved compulsion
to be as happy and carefree
as a dog.

James Thurber


The round up this week is at Adventures in Daily Living.

12 comments:

  1. A couple of clarifications, off post, as it were. No, that's not our dog, she's a dog we sit for/exhaust on occasion.

    I'm not sure I agree with Thurber that I'm "troubled" by the Dog Wish. I'm troubled by a the complications in my life that make my own Dog Wish so strong. And I certainly don't agree that my Dog Wish is "strange and involved." My Dog Wish is pretty straightforward. How about yours?

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  2. I too have a dog wish. There are many days when I wish I could laze around like my lovely old lady does. However, I find on these cold winter days that my cat wish is stronger. I want to be the one curled up and resting in the spot of sun.

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  3. I want to be able to launch myself down stairs and steep hills like a dog. They are so unthinkingly fearless or perhaps, stupid, but nevertheless, I would like to know what that kind of downhill tumbling speed feels like.

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  4. I would like to have people pat my head, rub my ears, and give me a treat whenever they see me. :)

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  5. I am one with a cat wish. Give me a spot of sun on a soft quilt and I'm happy for hours.

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  6. I wish all dogs could be happy and carefree ... like my little fella now. But he had been abandoned (with his littermates) by the side of a road, not that long ago. I understand the sentiment though, and that's an adorable picture.

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  7. Anonymous10:48 PM

    I don't think dogs are nearly as carefree as Thurber gives them credit for. But I like that they can curl up and sleep whenever they want.

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  8. Cute dog!!
    Wonderfully matched photo and poem!

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  9. Mary Lee,

    Is that a picture of your dog? It looks as it he/she may be having a wonderful dog dream.

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  10. My "dog" wish is the carefree-- no worries part. I would love to take off the layers of responsibilities and stress for a dog day or two.

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  11. Funny, when I read "dog wish" I thought of "a wish to have a dog"! I've been resisting efforts from the family to have another dog since the passing of ours a few years ago, but lately I find myself imagining...

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