'The Dog' by Gerald Stern
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What I was doing with my white teeth exposed
like that on the side of the road I don't know,
and I don't know why I lay beside the sewer
so that the lover of dead things could come back
with is pencil sharpened and his piece of white paper.
I was there for a good two hours whistling
dirges, shrieking a little, terrifying
hearts with my whimpering cries before I died
by pulling the one leg up and stiffening.
There is a look we have with the hair of the chin
curled in mid-air, there is a look with the belly
stopped in the midst of its greed. The lover of dead things
stoops to feel me, his hand is shaking. I know
his mouth is open and his glasses are slipping.
I think his pencil must be jerking and the terror
of smell-and sight-is overtaking him;
I know he has that terrified faraway look
that death brings-he is contemplating. I want him
to touch my forehead once again and rub my muzzle
before he lifts me up and throws me intothat little valley. I hope he doesn't use
his shoe for fear of touching me; I know,
or used to know, the grasses down there; I think
I knew a hundred smells. I hope the dog's way
doesn't overtake him, one quick push,
barely that, and the mind freed, something else,
some other, thing to take its place. Great heart,
great human heart, keep loving me as you lift me,
give me your tears, great loving stranger, remember,
the death of dogs, forgive the yapping, forgive
the shitting, let there be pity, give me your pity.
How could there be enough? I have given
my life for this, emotion has ruined me, oh lover,
I have exchanged my wildness-little tricks
with the mouth and feet, with the tail, my tongue is a parrots's,
I am a rampant horse, I am a lion,
I wait for the cookie, I snap my teeth-
as you have taught me, oh distant and brilliant and lonely.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"The Dog" by Gerald Stern: A Captivating Exploration of Love, Grief and Memory
As the late American poet, Gerald Stern, once wrote: "Poetry teaches us how to live." In his poem "The Dog," Stern manages to capture the essence of life through the eyes of a beloved pet. In a mere twenty lines, he evokes complex emotions of love, loss, and memory. It is a remarkable work of art that has touched countless readers over the years, and it continues to do so today.
The Poem in Context
"The Dog" is a part of Gerald Stern's collection of poems, "This Time: New and Selected Poems," published in 1998. The collection contains a wide range of themes and emotions, but "The Dog" stands out for its simplicity and raw emotional power. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet.
The Poem
Before we delve deeper into the poem's meaning, let us first look at the poem itself:
The Dog
Except for
the stray hair
or two
on the sleeve of my coat
you’d never know
I loved the dog
or the dirty look
he used to give me
when I left the house
for my long walk
but every once in a while
on a street corner
or waiting for the light to change
or smoking
I’d look down at my side
and there he’d be
with his great head
low to the ground
sniffing
around the garbage
or sleeping
in a patch of sun
and I’d say,
“Hold on, fella,
I’m coming too.”
At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple description of the speaker's relationship with their dog. However, upon closer examination, we can see that there are layers of emotion and meaning behind each line.
Analysis of the Poem
Love and Loss
The first line of the poem, "Except for the stray hair or two," immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that the dog is no longer present, and the speaker is left with only a few physical reminders of their pet. This creates a sense of loss and longing that runs through the entire poem.
The line "you'd never know I loved the dog" is a powerful statement because it suggests that the speaker's love for their dog was not something that was easily visible to others. The love they shared with their pet was a private and intimate bond that existed only between them.
The line "or the dirty look he used to give me when I left the house for my long walk" highlights the dog's personality and his unique relationship with the speaker. Dogs are known to be loyal creatures, and the fact that the dog gives the speaker a "dirty look" suggests that he was not happy about being left alone. This is a sign of the dog's attachment to the speaker, and it creates a sense of empathy in the reader.
Memory
The poem then shifts to memory as the speaker recalls moments with their dog. The lines "but every once in a while on a street corner or waiting for the light to change or smoking I’d look down at my side and there he’d be" suggest that the speaker is remembering a time when they used to take walks with their dog. This is further reinforced by the line "with his great head low to the ground sniffing around the garbage or sleeping in a patch of sun."
The use of the past tense in the poem creates a sense of nostalgia and longing. It is clear that the speaker is remembering a time when their dog was still alive, and this creates a sense of sadness and loss.
Closure
The final line of the poem, "Hold on, fella, I’m coming too," is a powerful one because it suggests that the speaker is ready to join their dog. This creates a sense of closure and acceptance, as the speaker seems to have come to terms with the fact that their pet is no longer with them. The use of the word "too" suggests that the speaker is ready to join their dog in whatever afterlife exists, and this creates a sense of hope and comfort.
Interpretation
"The Dog" is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss. It is a powerful work of art that captures the essence of what it means to love a pet. The poem is not just about the speaker's relationship with their dog; it is about the bond that exists between all pet owners and their animals.
The poem is also a meditation on memory and the power of the past. The speaker's memories of their dog are bittersweet, and they create a sense of longing and nostalgia. Memory is a powerful force in our lives, and "The Dog" reminds us of the importance of cherishing the memories we have of our loved ones.
Finally, the poem is a meditation on mortality and the afterlife. The final line of the poem suggests that the speaker is ready to join their dog in whatever afterlife exists. This creates a sense of hope and comfort, as the speaker seems to have come to terms with the loss of their pet.
Conclusion
"The Dog" is a remarkable work of art that has touched the hearts of countless readers over the years. It is a poem that captures the essence of what it means to love and lose a pet. The poem is a meditation on memory, mortality, and the power of love. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of cherishing the memories we have of our loved ones, both human and animal.
Gerald Stern has given us a gift with this poem, and it is a gift that will continue to be treasured for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry The Dog: A Heartwarming Tale of Love and Loyalty
Gerald Stern's "Poetry The Dog" is a beautiful and touching poem that captures the essence of the bond between a dog and its owner. The poem is a tribute to the unconditional love and loyalty that dogs offer to their human companions, and it celebrates the joy and comfort that they bring into our lives.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the arrival of a new dog in his life. The dog, named Poetry, is a stray that the speaker takes in and gives a home. The speaker describes how the dog quickly becomes a beloved member of the family, and how he is amazed by the dog's ability to bring joy and happiness into his life.
The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery that captures the essence of the dog's personality and character. The speaker describes how Poetry is "a little black dog with long / silky hair and small black eyes / who loved to sleep on my chest / and would lick my face / when I woke up in the morning." This description of the dog's physical appearance and behavior is both charming and endearing, and it helps to create a strong emotional connection between the reader and the dog.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the many ways in which Poetry brings joy and comfort into his life. He describes how the dog would "follow me everywhere / and would sit at my feet / while I wrote poetry." This image of the dog as a loyal and devoted companion is a powerful one, and it helps to underscore the deep emotional bond that exists between the speaker and his dog.
The poem also explores the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death. The speaker describes how he knows that Poetry will not live forever, and how he is filled with sadness at the thought of losing his beloved companion. However, he also acknowledges that the joy and love that Poetry brings into his life are worth the pain of eventual loss. He writes, "I know he will die / and I will grieve for him / but I will never regret / the time we spent together."
The poem concludes with a beautiful and poignant image of the speaker and his dog walking together in the woods. The speaker describes how Poetry would "run ahead of me / and then come back / as if to say hurry up / or to see if I was still there." This image of the dog as a playful and loving companion is a powerful one, and it helps to underscore the deep emotional connection that exists between the speaker and his dog.
In conclusion, "Poetry The Dog" is a beautiful and touching poem that celebrates the love and loyalty that dogs offer to their human companions. The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery that captures the essence of the dog's personality and character, and it explores the themes of love, loss, and mortality in a powerful and poignant way. This poem is a testament to the power of the human-animal bond, and it reminds us of the joy and comfort that our furry friends bring into our lives.
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