I Could Chew on This: And Other Poems by Dogs - Francesco Marciuliano

Rating: ★★★★★

17/11/13

After the awesome book that enlightened me about cats' behavior and intentions, I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats, I had to read this one.

I had dogs and cats, and I love them equally. I mean, there are some prejudices about dogs being dumber than cats, supported by media everywhere.

But I don't believe that, really...

Anyway, lovely book of poems. It has four chapters that help you to understand your furry friend, a little bit more. There are some insightful points of view here. They have feelings too, you know. For example, if you're about to give them some food, don't stop to do your stuff, feed them first. You already showed them the can/bag of food. THEY KNOW. Don't make them feel this way:

Dance of Joy

This is the dance I do for you, do for you

This is the dance I do for you

As you get my can of food

This is the twirl I do for you, do for you

This is the twirl I do for you

As you open my can of food

This is the leap I do for you, do for you

This is the eight-foot vertical leap

I do for you

As you stop serving my food to answer

the phone

This is me running in a sheer panic,

wild panic

This is me running in desperate,

gasping, blind panic

As you continue to talk on the phone...

… THIS IS ME LOSING MY [censored] MIND

MY [censored] BRAINS, MY [censored] COOL

THIS IS ME WONDERING WHAT THE [censored]

COULD BE SO [censored] IMPORTANT

THAT YOU’RE STILL ON THE [censored] PHONE

This is me realizing I was howling out loud,

really loud

And that perhaps I overreacted

just a little

And so this is me eating the food

you give to me, always give to me

Touching.

There are little gems all over this book:

Where Are You?!?

I was so worried

I was so scared

I thought that I had lost you

And the life that we both shared

I searched through the entire house

From the basement to the attic

The living, dining, and bedrooms

Even the trash cans, because I was frantic

Up and down the staircase

Back and forth across the halls

In and out through every door

Louder and louder were my calls

I had given up every hope

I had given in to despair

I had given the bad news to the pet cat

Who gave me a look before re-licking her hair

But just when all seemed lost, I found you

And it gave my heart a rush

To see you sitting—startled, but alive and well

So if you don’t mind,

I’ll just stay here until you flush

The desperate sense of loss in this poem is overwhelming. You can only imagine this dog's smile when its owner was found.

I Dropped a Ball

I dropped a ball in your lap

It’s time to play

I just put a ball in your lap

So it’s time to play

See that ball I placed in your lap?

That means it’s time to play

You can have your emergency appendectomy

Any other day

But I dropped a ball in your lap

And now it’s time to play

Yes dog, people should know their priorities!

Wingman

I wag my tail

I tilt my head

I give a little wink

I flash my smile

I show my belly

I give a little lick

I do it all

From sit to speak

To attract women far and near

Then you chime in

With something about “fan fiction”

And I realize we’re going to die alone

Lassie

How come

With just a few barks

Everyone can understand

That Lassie is saying

Timmy fell down the well

But with my endless whining and gnawing

You can’t understand

That I am saying

I’d rather the earth swallowed me whole

Than go out in public wearing this raincoat

I loved this book. Happy reading!

* Photo credit: Book cover via Goodreads.
Sign dog and cat via Pinterest
The rest of the photos from I Could Chew on This: And Other Poems by Dogs by Francesco Marciuliano.