.

Storm Dog

Thunder, bounding through the holler, shouts.
The lights are flickering but are not out.
My dog is terrified out in the rain,
(My cats don’t mind or so their actions claim.)

I let him in his panic to assuage,
His gratefulness to me his eyes display.
He gleefully shakes water everywhere
As resonating thunder shakes our wares.

Surely water’s rising in our creek,
My chance of further sleep is looking bleak.
I wonder if my grandkids have awaked;
I hope not for their weary parents’ sake.

I make myself a cup of decaf tea
And light a candle should it come to be
That we lose power. (One can never tell.)
Perhaps it will disguise this wet dog smell.

If my son finds my darling in the house,
His irritation likely will arouse.
But Lobo is the best dog in the world,
Shamelessly, by me he will be spoiled.

For years he’s guarded kids and many flocks,
Coyotes stay away because he barks
All night. He’s known for being bold and cool
But booms and blastings make him come unglued.

The storm has waned, the rain has settled down;
My pooch goes back outside without a frown.
Goodnight dear storm and goodnight thundering,
I’m going back to bed and slumbering.

.

.

Faithful Friend

Chosen on his master’s wedding day,
The puppy was a favored, happy pet.
Taught to be well-mannered, he displayed
An easy temper, even common sense.
Companion of the couple many years
Before their own three children came along,
Envy-free, he loved the human peers
That made him one of four among the throng.
From beach vacations to his doggie dates,
Tyler lived a long and blessed life.
Then it was found that cancer was his fate;
Sad days were comingr the man and wife.
The patient, noble dog sat watching, brave,
As the man dug what would be his grave.

.

.

Gigi Ryan is a wife, mother, grandmother, and home educator. She lives in rural Tennessee.

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12 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    As a dog lover, these two poems are a treat to read. The first one is an all too familiar scenario of dogs and storms along with living in the country and having a dog to alert us to danger and scare away the predators and protect things like our chickens. The sadness of losing a pet is so well told and gave me a melancholy feeling. Thank you for sharing these.

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Roy,

      Thank you for commenting. I’m so glad you enjoyed these.

      The second poem is about my brother’s dog, who passed many years ago but was a favorite of mine and all who knew him.

      Gigi

      Reply
  2. Roy Eugene Peterson

    In the third from the end line of the second poem is the word, “comingr.” that must be a typo/error that should read “coming for.” I sent this comment separately so that it could be deleted when it is discovered and changed by you and the powers that be.

    Reply
  3. Michael Pietrack

    Dogs are the best, but they really are hard to reason with during a thunder storm.

    Reply
  4. Paul A. Freeman

    I enjoyed the narrative ‘Storm Dog’. The incident and your love of your dog are very vivid.

    Alas, Faithful Friend tells the sad fate of all dogs, the details conveying this one’s story and individuality.

    Thanks for the reads, Gigi.

    Reply
  5. C.B. Anderson

    Thunderstorms?! I’ve seen dogs reduced to terrified basket cases during 4th of July fireworks being set off in the neighborhood. And God help us if we live near a Rod & Gun Club. Most dogs, like most people, get used to it.

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear C.B.
      The dog of my childhood, a miniature dachshund, was utterly frantic over fireworks. And her birthday was the Fourth of July!

      Gigi

      Reply
  6. Shamik Banerjee

    My cats, like Lobo, not only get badly terrified by thunder but also pressure cooker hisses. Just one shrill hiss and they’ll dash to their secret hideouts. In “Faithful Friend,” I was not expecting the ending. Truly a hearbreaking poem. Thanks for the reads, Gigi.

    Reply

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