Customer Reviews

Bark: Selected Poems about Dogs

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I absolutely LOVE this book! The collection of poems are as diverse as the canines they describe. My favorite poem in the book is "Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House" (Billy Collins). Despite its title, the actual poem has NOTHING to do with shooting the neighbor's dog. I think the author named it that to set the tone as to how angry a person can get with the sound of incessant barking.

But the good news is how he tries to cope. He puts on a Beethoven symphony to try and drown out the dog but suddenly, in his mind's eye, he imagines the dog as part of the orchestra. It just gets funnier and funnier and in the end he attributes Beethoven's success to his famous "barking dog" solo! Hilarious!

The hardest poem to read because it is truly heartbreaking and it is about a puppy, is "Dog's Death" (John Updike). And yet, despite the devastating content, it is a beautiful and moving piece.

This collection of poems includes many famous writers: John Updike (as mentioned), Robert Frost, Pablo Neruda, Mary Oliver, William Wordsworth - the list is quite impressive.

A truly wonderful and beautiful book! The illustrations alone are worth the price!!!

"Bark" is a small collection of poems about dogs (there are 26 pieces, to be exact). While some of the poems are of the cute and cuddly variety that you'd find in gift books, others are more serious, tackling issues such as death, loss and grieving. All are beautiful, except for a few that are a bit disturbing; for instance, in "Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House", Billy Collins entertains thoughts of shooting his neighbor's noisy dog. Such vignettes are the exception, though, and the only reason I gave "Bark" 4 stars instead of 5. There are also very vivid and lifelike sketches throughout the book, adding to the poetry's allure.

My favorite poem? "Dachshund", by William Jay Smith - since my first dog was (and still is) a Doxie (and the sketch looks uncannily like him, wrinkles and all!):

The Dachshund leads a quiet life
Not far above the ground;
He takes an elongated wife,
They travel all around.

I bought this book at an exhibition of Mr. Cook's paintings. I would have bought a painting if I could afford one, instead I bought the book. The selection of poems is matched with Ferris Cook's fantastic illustrations. It is lovely gift to any dog lover even if it's for yourself.