My Poem of the Week: 'The Dogs at Live Oak Beach, Santa Cruz' by Alicia Ostriker

[narya_flame]

We all need some happy in this dreary winter, so here, have some dogs enjoying the seaside.

The Dogs at Live Oak Beach, Santa Cruz

As if there could be a world

Of absolute innocence

In which we forget ourselves

 

The owners throw sticks

And half-bald tennis balls

Toward the surf

And the happy dogs leap after them

As if catapulted—

 

Black dogs, tan dogs,

Tubes of glorious muscle—

 

Pursuing pleasure

More than obedience

They race, skid to a halt in the wet sand,

Sometimes they'll plunge straight into

The foaming breakers

 

Like diving birds, letting the green turbulence

Toss them, until they snap and sink

 

Teeth into floating wood

Then bound back to their owners

Shining wet, with passionate speed

For nothing,

For absolutely nothing but joy.
 

 

 

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More about the author here.




 

Comments

[hhimring]

That is lovely, thank you!

[narya_flame]

I'm so glad you liked it!