Tuesday 31 July 2012

THOUGHTS ON THE BIG, BLACK DOG


image by Zelko Nedic

The Mag #128

How long has it been
Black Dog,
since you insinuated your way
into my life,
like the thinnest, darkest shadow,
then landed on my chest
with a huge THUD?
Five decades next year
you say?
I knew it was a long time.
I didn't think dogs lived that long,
but you surely have.

I thought I was rid of you a few times,
but like the cat who came back
you've continued to dog my steps.

Like Professor Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes
we seem to be bound together
at opposite ends
of this invisible lead,
which likely cannot be severed.

Well, my familiar,
let's go for another walk.
Perhaps I can lose you
in the undergrowth.
Though 
seriously doubt
it.


~ Bear ~

34 comments:

  1. Pets are wonderful! I enjoyed the poem!

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    1. Well, the depressive "black dog" (to quote Winston Churchill) is not a lot of fun. On the other hand, we had several wonderful black dogs (Standard Poodles).

      Thanks for visiting. I don't get many visitors to my poetry blog. They tend to go to my "Chrome" blog, which is my main one.

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  2. I think you will have this dog forever! This was heartfelt indeed, nice job. And thanks for stopping by my post yesterday.Good to meet you, Rob-Bear.
    Jim

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  3. I am inclined to agree with you, Jim. Thanks for dropping by.

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  4. good one :)
    and i wish to have a dog too !

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    1. Thank you for coming by. While having a dog is good, I would not want you to have one as depressing as this one.

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  5. I like your kind of poetry... Thanks for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome. And thanks for sharing a note.

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  6. Ah, the all too familiar Black Dog...

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    1. Hangs around your place too? That dog seems to be just about everywhere!

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  7. He visits me on occassion.
    Nice expression.

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    1. Thanks for coming by. Sorry that the black dog has found you, too.

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  8. Aptly put. I like the juxtaposition of the come-back cat dogging your footsteps!

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    1. Thanks, Pauline. As a journalist, I'm so very accustomed to writing prose, and a very particular kind of prose. Now I'm trying to use the right side of my brain, and it is a challenge. I suppose that there are some transferrable skills, but that will take some discovering.

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  9. I am lobbying for more Bear Poetry in 2013!!!!

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    1. Not until 2013. OK, that lets me "of the hook" for four more months.

      Except, well, ah, . . . I may write some more before the end of 2012. You keep encouraging (inspiring) me to do more. Sorry that I have to wait for the inspiration. But the Black Dog does that too me. Sadly.

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  12. A wonderful poem. Very meaningful for me.I can only lose the "black dog" through pills. :)

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    1. That's the story of my life as well, Belle. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  13. I've always meant to tell you how much I love the deep forest green of your blog background ... very bear like. Also to tell you how very much I appreciate the comments you leave for me ... like leaving little treats out in the dark of night, meant for delicious discovery in the morning.

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  14. Thank you, Helen. I just wish I could write more, but I seem unable to compose much of anything the days. And it's not writer's block. I'm just so very tired/depressed. Hopefully I'll be better as we move into fall (my favourite time of year).

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  15. My favourite time of the year too Rob-bear. One of my sons has a black dog too. It does rather seem as if the best people have a black dog in their lives. You are certainly not alone - Winston Churchill had a black dog and look at what he achieved with it - he saved my country (England) from annihilation!
    Thank you for the sympathy on my Blog.

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    1. Churchill was the one who coined the phrase about the "black dog."

      I hope your son is doing well. It is a tough time.

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  16. This poem makes me thing of depression that just keeps dogging me, sometimes laying low for quite awhile but then popping up suddenly like a dog leaps out from beside the couch...lovely my friend!

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  17. So sorry to hear of your experience with the dog.

    If I had just a bit more energy, I might be able to write some new poetry. Maybe tomorrow.

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  18. That's a heartachingly beautiful poem. The black dog stays with me, too.

    Love,
    Janie Junebug

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Janie. Sorry to hear you have a resident Black Dog as well.

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  19. You're delving with your feelings here, and that's a must with poetry!
    I so get this!

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    1. Thanks, Rosaria. It's like W. C. Fields saying that sometimes you have to take the bull by the tail and face the situation.

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  20. Very meaningful! Hoping that black dog isn't still hanging around!

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    1. Thanks, Betty. I'm afraid the Dog has taken up permanent residence in our place. It especially likes me, and is often in either my bedroom or study. New meaning to "gone to the dog."

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting
      Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

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  21. Very profound... you write in a way that I wish I could... I love to write! Wishing you some white bunnies to keep the black dog in check! Cheers~

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    1. Thanks for you kindness, Heather. I hope you are able to write more and more.

      White bunnies? As in Fleetwood Mac's "White Rabbit"?

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting
      Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

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