I'm about to start a poetry unit with my 10th grade honors class, and because they have already indicated that they don't like poetry, I thought I would start them out on some poems that would be accessible and, dare I say it, fun. Anyway, I came across this one by Billy Collins, and it made me laugh out loud. Thought you might like it.
Another Reason Why I Don't Keep A Gun In The House
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on on their way out.
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
I close all the windows in the house
and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast
but I can still hear him muffled under the music,
barking, barking, barking,
and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.
When the record finally ends he is still barking,
sitting there in the oboe section barking,
his eyes fixed on the conductor who is
entreating him with his baton
while the other musicians listen in respectful
silence to the famous barking dog solo,
that endless coda that first established
Beethoven as an innovative genius.
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3 comments:
Sounds like the dog next door. Are you sure this was not written by your dad?
I like Collins a lot. I like the one he did about Smokey the Bear. :) Clever dude.
For my mom...maybe Daddy was writing poetry on the side...one of his hidden talents (like cooking).
For Jen C...I gave my students the Smokey the Bear poem, too. They loved it. Today's mission was accomplished: they learned poetry can be funny and clever. Collins is great for discussing tone, too.
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