Tag Archives: dogs

Full of Importance by Jeanie Axton

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Full of importance
on Pageant Day
our canine friends
were out to play

Santa costumes
Christmas grins
white beards flowing
from hairy chins

Music and laughter
Christmas cheer
the town comes alive
this time of year

Thousands of locals
line the street
applauding our pooches
as they wag to the beat

The talk of the town
for the year to come
The dogs of Mt Gambier
are second to none

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Don’t forget a special treat for your furry members on Christmas Day.

Photo from Pexels by Goochie Poochie Grooming

Izzy The Moodle by James Aitchison

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Close your eyes and picture a dog:

A Maltese terrier crossed with a poodle.

She’s a lovely dog is Izzy,

And she’s proud to be a moodle.

Moodles have oodles of energy,

And they’re always very busy.

They run in circles everywhere

And never ever get dizzy —

             (CRASH)

 — like Izzy!

Anticipation by Jeanie Axton

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Dedicated to Gwen and her Golden Retriever Louie.

The sun is setting 

a coloured sky awaits,

“Lets get moving

We cant be late”

We walk and we talk

as we pick up the pace,

towards the sunset

at our sacred place.

To the end of the pier

we arrive at our spot,

out comes the phone 

for our nightly shot.

On the way home 

I look back and grin

“Thanks for the walk,

Lets do this again”.

The Desert Dogs of Tjuntjuntjara by Stewart Ennis

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A Tjuntjuntjara desert dog

Is howling at the moon.

Just one at first, then more join in

This ancient howling growling tune.

               [Don’t ask me why.

               It’s the just their way.

               They’ve done it every single day

               Since dogs began!]

And very soon, and very soon, 

The entire yip-yap yelping mob, 

Yes, the whole red-dirt platoon

Of Tjuntjuntjara desert dogs

Is howling at the moon.

Image by Stewart Ennis. Used with permission.

Stewart Ennis is from Bridge of Weir, Scotland. Since the 1980s he’s worked in Scottish theatre as writer, deviser, performer and occasional photographer. He was creative writing tutor in Scottish prisons and editor of Causeway/Cabhsair magazine of new Irish & Scottish writing. His plays, poems, stories and photographs have appeared on a number of stages, pages and platforms. A debut novel Blessed Assurance was published in 2020. Recent work includes writing the children’s film animation Yoyo & The Little Auk for Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He’s currently at Curtin University for the second year of an Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance scholarship PhD in creative writing. He recently some time in wonderful Tjuntjuntjara documenting the Spinifex artists at work and play.

The Mutt Hutt by Jeanie Axton

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A custom cut from nose to butt

is what the “Mutt Hutt” does

Snipping, styling the latest trends

and shaving through the fuzz

In through the in door

disarrayed and dirty as can be

Out through the out door

transformed to a beauty queen

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Foster Boxer by Jeanie Axton

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This poem was inspired by a news story I watched, then researched, about a boxer named Treasure, who became a mum to eight little piglets on a farm in Queensland.


Eight cute little piglets
grunting and squealing today
because a boxer named Treasure
came bounding their way


A stray herself
Treasure played her part
taking the eight little piglets
straight into her heart


She rounded them up
with cuddles and licking
her milk came in
with the suckling and kicking


On a farm with eight kids
and eight piglets in tow
Treasure the Boxer
put on a great show


She now has a family
Treasure loves them to bits
a boxer and eight piglets
the perfect farm fit

The Biggest Dog in the World by James Aitchison

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We turned a corner and there he was,

towering in the air,

a gorgeous dog with enormous eyes

and wheat dust in his hair.

He didn’t bark, he didn’t move,

he gazed out from the wall, 

beside his master, for all time,

the biggest dog of all.

Teacher’s note: This silo art is at Nullawil, Victoria, so named because the local indigenous word “nulla” is a killing stick while “willock” means a galah.  Both items appear on the medal attached to the dog’s collar.

Poem of the Day

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A ball, a dog and us

 

You look as if you’re giggling

and your tail is madly wriggling

Yes, I know that all you want to do is run.

 

But, Poppet, we’re not racing

and we’re tired of all the chasing.

I’m warning you, this isn’t any fun!

 

I thought that you adored me

and is this how you reward me?

If I were you, I’d hang my head in shame.

 

You’re going to cop it, Poppet

if you don’t let go and drop it.

Just stop it!

You are ruining our game!

 

Jenny Erlanger
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #41

poetry-prompt-41

Poem of the Day

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Tammy

 

As long as I live will I ever remember

Those bright eyes shining under the table,

Of a black and tan kelpie, who was silently saying:

“Will you be my friend? Can I be yours, too?

 

“Can we be friends?—yes! the best of. And if you

Love me, fun me, feed, and de-flea me,

I’ll guard and care for you, and ever be there,

For you’ll be my friend—yes!—and I’ll be yours, too.”

 

She was my ‘best of…’, and I loved her and kept her

Til, old, deaf and blind, she lay down and died.

Then gone were the walkies, my petting this pal,

But memories, good memories, will ever remain.

 

Memories, dear memories, so near and so dear,

Of a woofity pal who just wanted a friend.

Thanks, Mum, for Tammy, with her bright eyes so shining,

Who sat ’neath the table waiting for me.

Bridh Hancock
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #27

saffy1

Poem of the Day

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There is a special place in our hearts and souls

That can only be filled by someone

who instinctively understands us,

Loves us unconditionally,

Is never demanding of our love and attention

But is always grateful for it.

 

That’s why pets are family.

Sioban Timmer
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #27

saffy1

Sioban says: This piece was written for a friend after their dog died. Pets especially dogs are so the ultimate carers, they bring so much to our lives and expect so little in return. Cats on the other hand…..