POEM #1 MY FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND

Greetings everyone.

For today’s post, I decided to share with you something that I wrote. Last year, I decided to take an Advance Creative Writing class and one of the exercises was to write a poem in response to a short story. I have never been good at writing poems, but here goes nothing. The short story that I chose is called “A Dark Brown Dog” by Stephen Crane, which was published in March of 1901. I encourage you to read the short story first so that you can better understand the poem. I hope you enjoy it.

MY FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND

I still remember how you came to me that day,

Hesitant, with a string around your neck.

Our first contact was so friendly

But your enthusiasm eventually made me scared.

I was just a child then, I didn’t know any better

That you just wanted to play with me by pulling at my sweater.

I remember that I hit you, so wrong of me to do this.

But you were so persistent and soon became my bliss.

I took you to my house not knowing what to expect.

Many times they tried to hurt you but the objects you’d deflect.

I was mean to you at times, I would hit you for no reason.

How stupid of me it was! It was almost treason.

Despite all this, you were always there for me.

You would try to show me love by putting your paw on my knee.

And one day I failed you terribly, I was scared for me as well.

My dad grabbed you violently and all I heard was when you fell.

I never forgot that day, and I promised to avenge you.

Once I grew taller and stronger, that’s when I knew.

One day that piece of crap that I once called father

Came home exceptionally drunk and again hit my mother.

I became extremely enraged and punched him in the face.

His jaw I think I broke and he left in such disgrace.

That man never came back home and for that I am so grateful.

He hurt you, me and mom, how could he be so hateful?

My heart is now at peace, my promise I fulfilled.

I carried it in my heart since the day that you were killed.

Now I look into the future with an optimistic smile.

No more fear and no more sadness, at least not for a long while.

Although years have passed in handfuls

since the last day you were here,

I want to say that I am forever grateful

For your company, love and cheer.

And in honor of that friendship that you taught me years ago,

I’ve acquired a new companion, what else? Another dog.

I promise to love him and care for him like I should have done with you,

Even when he decides to misbehave or just play with my shoe.

To my new four-legged friend, I promise not to be mean.

He will always be beside me just like you have always been.