Monday, July 25, 2011

dog days of summer


she nuzzled me
this morning with her licorice nose
she reminded me that
prolonged prone positioning
would be a defeat
to Newton's gravitational pull

ignore the stiff
ascension was written
in her young eyes
an instinctive un-domestication
charted - centered 
into the mapping of each iris

the one left reflecting Canis Minor
the right Canis Major

signaling
summer had rolled herself over
layering humidity, heat
and sweat
like a seven layer dip
only somewhat quenchable
with a top-self margarita
blended then poured fully into a salt-ringed Saturn-ed
glass - stemmed and strawed

these are
the dog days of summer
and August stands to be their
master - but Indy was bent on
having her day - pawing incessantly at
the hand that feeds her,
licking any lingering
dip layered on my face, for

she knows she is master here
unrelenting to taking
"No" as a correct answer
unmovable in reinforcing
her godlike status, denying
acceptance of any homo sapien form
of climatic excusablity - especially to 
one pointing straight at
a rival canis

rising she knew
she had me - then again
this canis maximus
knew she had me
at first site

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2011

posted for Magpie Tales
and d'Verse Open Link Night...

Indy is the young dog we adopted in April...she is black and about two years old.  She is named after the Hindu God Indra and of course Indy car racing...( that is Tootie behind her) ...bkm


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42 comments:

  1. Dave KingJuly 26, 2011 at 2:40 AM

    Very clever, very amusing and a joy to read.

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  2. The UnknowngnomeJuly 26, 2011 at 3:14 AM

    Dog days indeed. A fun read.

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  3. BerowneJuly 26, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    Good writing for the dog days of summer...

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  4. Brian MillerJuly 26, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    smiles. like a seven layer dip and margarita...i am all in for that...smiles.

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  5. annell4July 26, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    Wonderfully done!

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  6. Tess KincaidJuly 26, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    Like a seven layer dip, indeed!

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  7. AnonymousJuly 26, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    these are
    the dog days of summer
    and August stands to be their
    master

    Great wit in this poem.

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  8. UnknownJuly 26, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    enjoyed this a lot bkm... your metaphors and imagery all joined perfectly.. and cute dogs :)

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  9. Matthew QuinnJuly 26, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. AnonymousJuly 26, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    Good write. I always wonder who's the owner...

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  11. SheilaJuly 26, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    aw, they are so cute. Liked the Saturn-ed rim glass bit and sounds to me like your canis maximus is more insistant about you getting up in the morning than my homo sapiens are :)

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  12. DaydreamertooJuly 26, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Hehe... Dogs rule us, and, they usually know it~!
    My little Yorkie sits at the front door staring at me and sending telepathic messages. "Come on now, you KNOW it's time for us to GO walkies"... and... I surrender.
    Fabulous prose. Lovely dedication to your dog/s

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  13. kelvin s.m.July 26, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    ..i enjoyed it.. i needed to read it again and again to rediscover your words a thousand times... i like the tangible flow of your words...thank you!(:

    ~Kelvin S. M.

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  14. LauraJuly 26, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    A magnificent ode to your beloved friend...you wound each word with perfection, one around the next.

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  15. Ann GrenierJuly 26, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    You've incorporated so many references in your poem, Barbara, weaving them like the stars in the solar system. Love it as always.

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  16. LouiseJuly 26, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    I do so love your writing..always makes me think ..this stanza stands out for me "ignore the stiff
    ascension was written
    in her young eyes
    an instinctive un-domestication
    charted - centered
    into the mapping of each iris" ~ beautifully written.

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  17. ScarletJuly 26, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    indeed a beautiful read about your beloved dog

    love the play of words~

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  18. Pat HattJuly 26, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    The cat may not like dogs, but never fear Pat does. They are such a delight to have around. You captured their actions well. Funny how Tootie was mimicking Indy in the pic too.

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  19. BrendanJuly 26, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Oh Indy, thy nose at least is cold ... Fun sprint through the burning fields of summertime, summertime. - Brendan

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  20. Jenne' R. Andrews July 26, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    oh yes, here's to the canis maximus! xxxj

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  21. BeachannyJuly 26, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    Your work gets stronger and better every week. The word play in this piece moved me from the unquenchable heat that is scorching the nation to cool margaritas and the unreachable chill of Saturn's rings..and through it all the indescribable (although if anyone could, it's you) love of a dog and her human friend. So well done. Wonderfilled!

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  22. LynJuly 26, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    You weave an amusing spell..dog days can't be so bad if they produce this!!

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  23. hedgewitchJuly 26, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    There's some beautiful imagery hidden in the humor here, bkm--I love the seven layer dip, the sense of summer at full tilt. I have a Canis (interruptus) myself, who doesn't see what this fascination is with a little black hunk of plastic in a stuffy room when we could be in the Magic Outside.

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  24. steveroniJuly 26, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    So "dog days" DO have something to do with doggies...fascinating post, you are GOOD!
    Peace, Barbara!

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  25. Maxwell Mead Williams Robinson BarryJuly 26, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    super creative.

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  26. Sage RavenwoodJuly 26, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    I absolutely adored this one. First because my Pickles seems to think she's master of me too. Second because you actually named your dog Indy. Friends often call me Indy short for Indigo.

    Absolutely delightful writing. (Hugs)Indigo

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  27. Lady NyoJuly 26, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    ROTF!!!

    You sure got the hierachy right here!

    Dog days of summer, indeed.

    This goes beyond 'clever' to excellent!

    Lady Nyo

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  28. Maude LynnJuly 26, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    Delicious words!

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  29. Joseph HeschJuly 26, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    When you showed us that photo this morning you heard how I related to that scene. As the owner (or was it the owned?) of two Labs in my life I was in this piece like a chew toy in my old Misty's immense jaws. Such great images and feelings expressed here, my friend. Always a joy to stop by. J.

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  30. mrs mediocrityJuly 26, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Ha, as I was reading this, my canine came by and interrupted me! can totally relate, they have us wrapped around their little paws...

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  31. Sherry Blue SkyJuly 26, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Oh she is so lovely. Around the head and ears she does remind me of Pup. I love your poem and love that she "had you at first sight".........she must be so happy she found her way to you. I love her name. Beautiful, Barbara. You have a big heart.

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  32. G-ManJuly 27, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    Licorice nose... hehehehe

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  33. AnonymousJuly 27, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    Your piece draws the reading until the end. And the middle done so well. It can be a place where the reader is lost... not today, not in your poem.

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  34. Kerry O'ConnorJuly 27, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    I'm also held hostage in my home by a big black dog!! Canis Major indeed. This is definitely one for dog lovers :)

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  35. UnknownJuly 27, 2011 at 3:29 PM

    They tend to own us don't they. A touching, spirited write. As always your imagery is captivating ~ Rose

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  36. Tumblewords:July 27, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    Dog days, for sure. A delightful read!

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  37. Chronicles of IllusionsJuly 27, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    So much fun and I loved this

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  38. AnnaJuly 27, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    This is a delightful read! I love the "seven layer dip"

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  39. JinksyJuly 28, 2011 at 6:43 AM

    prolonged prone positioning
    would be a defeat
    to Newton's gravitational pull

    Same for Bloggers, eh? lol :)

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  40. PattyFJuly 30, 2011 at 12:25 PM

    What a great tribute to Indy and a delightful read! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us!!

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  41. Sue JJuly 30, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    A lovely read.

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  42. OliviaJuly 31, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    An amazing write Barbie!
    You have a beautiful way with words weaving a story expressed in the most delightful manner!!

    Hugs xox

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