It is clear now that I have a niche poetry interest. It's dogs. I want to read all the poetry collections about dogs. I started with Mary Oliver's Dog Songs (5/5 - no notes). When I heard Billy Collins was releasing Dog Show this year, I immediately put it on hold at the library.
IT'S PERFECT. Collins writes adorable poems, Pamela Sztybel illustrates wonderful watercolors, and I devoured it up like it was MY JOB.
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It helps that Collins is in conversation with Mary Oliver. He quotes her and then writes a poem responding to that quote. I, of course, somehow feel like a genius for knowing that Dog Songs is a thing. Way to make me feel smart, Billy Collins!
I sort of feel like Billy Collins and Mary Oliver are trolling us. Why two dog-themed poetry collections with adorable illustrations? I don't know, but I need them both in my life.
5/5 stars - no notes
One a bench one afternoon
in a grassy park in Minneapolis
I realized what I liked best
about the dogs of Minneapolis
is that they have no idea they're in Minneapolis
- (From "In Praise of Ignorance," page 9)
So, instead of following your bliss,
follow around some lighthearted dog.
Surely, it's better than doing nothing,
if anything were better than doing nothing,
which, setting dogs aside for now,
is said to be the best thing one can do
or not do, but in a positive way, forever, amen.
- (From "The Following Dogs," page 74)
Hat mentions (why hats?):
hat or umbrella (page 3)
birthday hat (page 45)
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Solely based on the watercolors above, which of those dogs:
a) is the naughtiest?
b) is the cuddliest?
c) is the best at agility?
d) would you adopt?
I love this book so much I helped Jack cut it into a poetry program for speech competition, and he is taking it to nationals next week!!!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea! It's such a sweet little book.
DeleteWell, of course I'd have to adopt the white toed dog, but I can make a case for all of them coming home with me.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that dog poetry was a thing but now that I do, I bet you can guess which two books I just put in library requests for.
These books are so much fun. I highly recommend them. I actually bought the Oliver book for myself and am considering adding this one to my collection, as well. I don't buy books very much, so that's saying something.
DeleteI've developed a particular fondness for little wirehaired terriers like the bottom right one. There are a couple of commercials that have them featured, and they're just adorable. I will never be a dog owner, however; they are a lot more work than I'm willing to put in. But I absolutely love dogs.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if we're ever going to own a dog after this one, to be honest. LOL. She's so much work. You're smart to admire them from afar.
DeleteI’m not even really a dog person (but most of my friends are????) and this book seems absolutely delightful - thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteIt was a delightful book. Maybe more delightful for dog lovers than non-dog lovers, but there's also a poem about cats, if you're a cat person.
DeleteI guess you could say Billy Collins is my favorite poet, since I don't usually read poetry but a quote from one of his poems, Aristotle, goes through my mind frequently: "This is the beginning, almost anything can happen..." I'm sure a collection of dog poems by him is EXCELLENT. And I'll take that white dog!!!
ReplyDeleteI bet that one on the bottom left is really good at agility and obedience, though. Wouldn't it be fun to train him or her?!
DeleteGoodness, I had no idea dog poetry was a thing and now I want both of these books. I have some credits at bookstore dot com, and I’m going over there right now.
ReplyDeleteI cannot choose and am adopting all four of these dogs immediately. I think bottom left is the most obvious winner in agility, but top left WANTS to be good at it too. He may get distracted.
Ha! The one on the top left might be a stealth obedience champ. You can't always tell looking at them!
DeleteI have a friend who owns a beagle, so I can confidently say, he's the naughtiest! I love the stanza about Minneapolis. Kind of a lighthearted dig, I guess. Makes me want to read more.
ReplyDeleteIs one of those dogs a beagle? Do I not know what a beagle looks like?
DeleteThe top left one? Maybe? (I've never owned a dog, but it kinda looks like my friend's beagle. I might be wrong though.)
DeleteI think it's a coonhound. Unlikely to be a beagle with the coloring and small dots. But maybe I'm wrong! I get the dog breeds wrong all the time.
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