Sidman - The world according to dog: poems and teen voices

Poetry copyright 2003 by Joyce Sidman
Photographs copyright 2003 by Doug Mindell The copyright to essays and accompanying photographs in this collection is held by the individual authors and photographers. Reprinted with permission. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016. hmhbooks.com The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows: The world according to dog : poems and teen voices / by Joyce Sidman.
p. cm.

Summary: A collection of poems about dogs is accompanied by essays by young people about the dogs in their lives. HC ISBN-13: 978-0-618-17497-3 PA ISBN-13: 978-0-618-28381-1 1. DogsLiterary collections. [1. DogsLiterary collections. 2.

Youths writings.]
I. Sidman, Joyce. PZ5.W78 2003
810.8'03629772dc21
2002000476 eISBN 978-0-547-56231-5
v2.0419 To Merlin, of the black silk ears,And Pecos, who came before
J.S. To my parents, June and Gene,
who always encouraged me to be creative
and who thoughtfully included the u in my name D. M.

Go out walking. Go out walking.

In some part of every day, step into the waiting arms of the sky and whisk away but always take a dog, so that you have something to follow. Stroll or saunter, steam up hills, thoughts rumbling through your head like bees bent on their own courses but always take a dog, so you can watch how he chooses which path to take. Absorb the light: the sun-splayed distance, the close, soft dampness of a cloudy day but always take a dog, so you can see how the wind moves through his fur. Be alert for what the day might offer you: a gull, a penny, the pale thumbprint of moon but always take a dog, so you can heed how his nose moves from side to side, seeking unexpected treasure.

Spring Trembling at the door wanting Out Mud-faced and weary wanting In Summer Panting fat tongue in Smooth cool garage Autumn Nowhere Everywhere Stalking Scattering Bearing bits of leaves Winter Regal atop a snowdrift Curled like a cat inside a window-square of sun My four-legged friend is Comet. At school we would call him a genius of his genus, but at home we say, Hey, Comet!"After receiving Comet, we realized that our dog had a lot to learn:

• 1.
  
  

  Our house is not a bathroom

• 2. Fetch
• 3. Puppy eyes=good stuff
• 4. Jumping off the dock

Comets greatest accomplishment is probably fetch. Our dog has speed, and caught on to catching the ball very fast.At our cottage, we would throw his toy into the water from the shore and he would retrieve it. Soon we began throwing his toy off the dock, but Comet still ran back to the shore to enter the water from there.

Now Comet knows he wont snap in two if he jumps off the dock.Comet is timid, especially around other canines. However, when he is playing fetch with his ball, YOURE ON HIS TURF! He does not bite or growl he just stares at you with those puppy eyes and intelligent smile, as if to say, Come near my toy and youll regret it.Comet is the best dog. I wouldnt trade him for the world, because he is my world.