13th September, 2005. 10:40 am

DOGS, LACKING COMPREHENSION


OFTENTIMES, THE DOGS ASK TO BE REPRESENTED AS AWESOME FORCES

"PAINT US AS AN EARTHQUAKE, A FOUR-ALARM FIRE, A CRIME WAVE"

AND THEN, EMBOLDENED, THEY WHIP AND HOWL THROUGH THE STREETS

BUT NOW THEY SIT IN A SEMICIRCLE AND LOOK OUTSIDE AND DOWNWARDS, BAFFLED

"THAT'S A BIG JAW"

"GOD, THAT'S THE BIGGEST GODDAMNED JAW I'VE EVER SEEN"

(DOGS)

2nd August, 2005. 9:18 pm. DOGS MISSPOKE (EDITED)

PLEASE NOTE

I DO NOT ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT "DOGS ARE GAY"

THAT IS THE FARTHEST THING FROM THE TRUTH

JUST BECAUSE A DOG'S HANDSHAKE IS NOSE TO ANUS

JUST BECAUSE A DOG WILL LICK ANY WEINER IN SIGHT

JUST BECAUSE A DOG OCCASIONALLY LISTENS TO DONNA SUMMER AND RUNS AROUND THE YARD EARS UP

IS NO REASON AT ALL TO ENGAGE IN HOMOCANINOFASCISM

(DOGS)

28th June, 2005. 1:57 pm. DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS

DOG TO CAT, PURSUE

DOG TO BIRD, PURSUE INTO FLIGHT

DOG TO FISH, OBSERVE DISINTERESTEDLY

DOG TO RABBIT, PLACE IN MOUTH (IF POSSIBLE)

DOG TO DOG, UNKNOWN PENDING FURTHER OBSERVATION

(DOGS)

6th April, 2005. 6:19 pm. DOGS AT PLAY

THE GOOD THING ABOUT A DOG IS A SIMPLE THING CAN DISTRACT THEM FOREVER

A ROPE, A BALL, A DAUB OF PEANUT BUTTER

ANY OF THOSE THINGS WILL SEND A DOG REELING

THE DOGS CAN'T MULTITASK, THEY CAN'T WRITE "PLAY WITH ROPE" IN THEIR PDA

THEY JUST PUT THE ROPE IN THEIR MOUTHS AND THEY DON'T STOP WITH IT UNTIL IT'S DONE

(DOGS)

31st January, 2005. 5:34 pm. DOGS FROM ABOVE

HUNDREDS OF DOGS ON THE PAVEMENT, SEEN FROM ABOVE

FROM HERE WE CAN'T TELL BREEDS OR AGE, JUST GENERAL DIRECTION

ONE TEMPERAMENT IS THE SAME AS ANOTHER

HUNDREDS OF LEASHES DRAG ON THE GROUND, UNHELD

HOW CAN YOU LOSE ONE DOG AMONG HUNDREDS?

HOW CAN YOU FIND ONE DOG BY HIMSELF?

DOGS

23rd December, 2004. 2:23 pm. DOGS, CHIMNEYS

THERE'S A RUCKUS FROM DOWNSTAIRS

THE DOGS ARE BARKING UP A STORM

WE COME DOWN FROM OUR SEPERATE BEDS IN OUR PAJAMAS TO SEE THEM

THEIR FACES COVERED IN ASH

THEIR MOUTHS WET WITH MILK

AND THE COOKIES STREWN ACROSS THE FLOOR

WE TUCK THEM IN AND TELL THEM

"WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR."

- DOGS

20th October, 2004. 4:55 pm. DOGS THROUGH GRAY SKIES

A GIANT DOG LOPES CASUALLY DOWN BROADWAY

HIS HEAD TOWERS ABOVE THE BUILDINGS HERE

A DISTANT WHISTLE, AND HIS EARS PERK UP

FURROWING TWO DIVOTS THROUGH THE CLOUDS

WITH A START, HE TAKES OFF ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER

TWO LINES OF RAIN FOLLOWING HIM THERE

(DOGS)

27th July, 2004. 2:34 pm. DOGS IN ENSEMBLE

THE DOGS HAVE TAKEN UP THE PERIMETER AND BEGUN TO HOWL

EACH ONE'S VOICE EXPANDING THROUGH THE AIR OVER THE PROPERTY

HOWLS HARMONIZING LIKE THE RIPPLES OF A HUNDRED STONES DROPPED INTO THE LAKE

AS SOME TAKE BREAKS TO LAP FROM METAL BOWLS OF WATER, OTHERS FILL IN FOR THEM

I EXPECT THEY'LL KEEP GOING UNTIL THE MOON FINALLY SETS

WIDE-BAND SINE WAVES ON A SLOW TRIP INTO SPACE

DOGS

6th July, 2004. 8:08 pm. MAGGIE (FOR JAMIE)

DOGS IN THE BACK YARD, I NEVER GOT TO MEET YOU BUT YOU WERE THERE

TAKE A DOG INTO A HOUSE AND THE HOUSE BECOMES THE HOUSE OF THE DOG AS MUCH AS THE HOUSE OF THE PERSON

TAKE A DOG OUT OF A HOUSE AND THE HOUSE STAYS THE HOUSE OF THE DOG AS MUCH AS THE HOUSE OF THE PERSON

A DOG CAN NEVER BE REMOVED, NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, NO MATTER WHAT

A DOG IS EVERY PART OF YOUR HOUSE, EVERY PART OF YOUR WORLD

OUR HOUSES ARE EMPTY, WE MISS YOU, WE MISS YOU, WE MISS YOU

(DOGS)

25th May, 2004. 3:15 pm. DOGS AT ODDS

THE DOGS ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER ON THE BASKETBALL COURT

THEY TURN AND DRAG AT EACH OTHER IN A WILD FRENZY OF SNAPS AND LUNGES

PAWS, TAILS, EARS CAUGHT AND TORN BY STRANGE JAWS

MORE AND MORE DOGS FALL, EXHAUSTED OR INJURED

BUT ONE DOG STANDS TRIUMPHANT, UNBOWED, ALPHIC

THE OTHERS LOOK UP AT HIM FROM THE GROUND, COWED BY HIS FURY

AND THEN THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO ME

(DOGS)

19th April, 2004. 5:41 pm. DOGS AND LOCKS

THE DOORS ARE BEING KEPT LOCKED NOW, THE DOOR TO THE STREET AND THE DOOR INSIDE.

BUT THE DOGS HAVE NO DESIRE TO BE IN HERE.

THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO CURL UP BEHIND THE FILING CABINETS.

THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO LAP WATER OUT OF THE POLAND SPRING COOLER.

THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO XEROX THEMSELVES INTO HAILS OF PAPER FUR-MARKED.

THE DOGS MOVE LIKE WIND ON THE STREET BELOW, HIGH-LAUGH-YELPING.

THE DOORS ARE BEING KEPT LOCKED NOW AND ONLY THE DOGS HAVE KEYS.

(DOGS)

10th March, 2004. 7:43 pm. DOGS, CHANGING

A DOG IS NOT A THING THAT CAN ALWAYS BE THE SAME

YESTERDAY'S CALLOW PUP, TODAY'S LOYAL FRIEND, TOMORROW'S FADING NOISE DOWNSTAIRS

A DOG CAN BE A MOUTH AND A TAIL AND A CLOSENESS TO YOU

AND A DOG CAN BE NONE OF THOSE THINGS

A DOG, OUT OF THE CORNER OF YOUR EYE, CAN LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER DOG

OR IT CAN LOOK LIKE A HURRICANE, A CANYON, A TELEPHONE CALL

OR YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE A DOG AT ALL

(DOGS)

11th February, 2004. 11:14 am. CIRCLES IN YOUR HEART

IF YOU REMAIN QUIET AND STILL YOU CAN TOUCH THE DOG RUNNING IN CIRCLES IN YOUR HEART

(DOGS)

20th January, 2004. 1:27 pm. BREATH IN EAR

AS YOU LAY IN BED, YOU CAN FEEL A DOG'S BREATH IN YOUR EAR.

(DOGS)

15th December, 2003. 4:04 pm. FOOTFALLS THROUGH SNOW

YOU CAN HEAR THE GENTLE CRUNCH OF A DOG'S FOOTFALLS THROUGH SNOW.

(DOGS)

27th October, 2003. 2:45 pm. WIND THROUGH FUR

YOU CAN WATCH THE WIND RIFLING THROUGH A DOG'S FUR

(DOGS)

4th September, 2003. 10:01 am. DOGS IN AN EMPTY HOUSE

THE DOGS HAVE NO LEASHES, NO BONES, NO TOYS

THE SOUND OF A DOG'S TONGUE ON AN EMPTY WATER BOWL IS A SOFT, MUFFLED CLANGING

CLACKING OF DOGNAILS ON HARDWOOD FLOORS ECHOES OFF OF THE BARE WALLS IN THE NIGHT

THE DOGS TURN AROUND THREE TIMES AND LAY WHERE YOUR BED USED TO BE

THE DOGS WAIT BY THE DOOR FOR THE HOUSE TO COME HOME

(DOGS)

29th July, 2003. 11:26 am. DOGS SUBMERGED

EVERY DOG IS BORN KNOWING HOW TO SWIM

THE DOGS TELL ME THAT, BETWEEN GASPS FOR AIR, THEIR HEADS BARELY MAKING IT ABOVE WATER

THE LAKE IS A FROTH OF PAWS

WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR SHORE AND HAVE BEEN NOWHERE NEAR SHORE FOR HOURS

I TURN ON MY BACK AND FLOAT LAZILY AS THE DOGS CIRCLE AROUND ME, WAITING FOR AN OPENING

DOGS

2nd June, 2003. 5:34 pm. DOGS, HEARD FROM A SHORT DISTANCE

I AM LAYING ON MY STOMACH ON THE LEE SIDE OF A HILL

THE SUN IS MIDWAY UP THE SKY

I KNOW THE DOGS ARE PLAYING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL

I CAN HEAR THEIR SURPRISED YIPS AND FAST BREATHING

I KNOW THAT THEY WILL CREST THE HILL AND ROLL DOWN IN A WHIRL OF TEETH AND HAIR UPON ME

I KNOW THAT THE SUN WON'T SET UNTIL THEN

DOGS

7th April, 2003. 3:39 pm. DOGS GROW OLD

DOGS GROW OLD

GRAY HAIRS AROUND THEIR NOSTRILS, SPREADING THROUGH THE MUZZLE

SLOWER GAITS ACROSS THE KITCHEN FLOOR AT NIGHT

A LITTLE MORE CONTENT TO SIGH, LAY THEIR HEAD ACROSS YOUR LEG AND CLOSE THEIR EYES TO THE FIRE

A DOG ASKS TO COME INSIDE

THE SNOW IS HEAVY ON HIS WHITE HAIRS

LET HIM IN, DOGS ARE GROWING COLD.

(DOGS)

24th February, 2003. 12:49 pm. WHAT IS A DOG?

A DOG IS A MOUTH THAT BITES WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT.

A DOG IS A TAIL THAT GENTLY THRUMS AGAINST YOUR PANT LEG.

A DOG IS A WIND THAT BLOWS THROUGH AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS.

A DOG IS THE SKITTERING OF PAWS ACROSS THE KITCHEN FLOOR AT NIGHT.

A DOG IS WITH ME ALWAYS.

(DOGS)

30th January, 2003. 1:44 pm. COLD NOSES

SO MUCH STEAM ISSUES FROM A DOG'S MOUTH IN WINTER

SHUFFLING ALONG THROUGH SLUSH, ON THEIR WAY HOME

BONES AND EARS CLUTCHED IN THEIR MOUTHS

LIKE SMALL HAIRY TRAINS TO SOME LONG-CLOSED DEPOT

DOGS

14th December, 2002. 8:09 pm. IN THE DOGHOUSE

WE HAVE BEEN IN THE BACK YARD FOR A MONTH.

I HAVE HIT MY THUMB WITH A HAMMER MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.

THE DOGS ARE ATROCIOUS AT HOLDING THE BOARDS.

THEIR BLUEPRINTS ARE SMUDGED AND UNFEASIBLE.

THE DOG'S HOUSE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN MY HOUSE.

(DOGS)

1st November, 2002. 5:17 pm. AUTUMN DOGS

I WALK WITH A DOG DOWN A DIRT PATH, THROUGH PILES OF LEAVES.

THE ONLY SOUND IS OUR FEET AND PAWS.

NEITHER OF US HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.

THERE IS NO WAY I CAN MAKE A DOG UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.

THERE IS NO WAY A DOG CAN MAKE ME UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.

24th September, 2002. 1:14 pm. DOGNET

THE DOGS HAVE ENTIRELY OCCUPIED THE SPARE BEDROOM.

THEY HAVE PACKED THEMSELVES IN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY TIGHT.

THEY ARE TRYING TO CREATE A BIOLOGICAL COMPUTING DEVICE.

HUGE SAINT BERNARDS INHALE AND EXHALE, REMEMBERING EVERYTHING, AS ITALIAN GREYHOUNDS AND DACHSHUNDS SLITHER THROUGH THE GAPS, DELIVERING INFORMATION.

A ROW OF PERFECTLY SYNCHRONIZED BEAGLES READ NEWSPAPERS IN DOZENS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

ALREADY THEY HAVE THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF A THOUSAND DOGS.

ALREADY THEY CAN COMPUTE FASTER THAN A MID-PRICED INTEL PROCESSOR.

ALREADY THEY ARE EXTENDING INTO THE HALLWAY.

(DOGS)

26th August, 2002. 5:05 pm. RAINDOGS

WATER POURING DOWN ON DOGS, SKIES OPENING UP ON DOGS.

FUR MATTED TO DOGSIDES, OVER DOGEYES, INSIDE DOGEARS.

DOGS RUNNING IN PACKS, THROUGH PUDDLES, AGAINST TRAFFIC.

DOGS HOWLING BACK AT THUNDER, DOGS COMING HOME.

(DOGS)

3rd July, 2002. 1:34 pm. TANGLED UP IN DOGS

I WOKE UP TO FIND LEASHES ENTANGLING ME;

I AM MUMMIFIED IN COLLARS, CHAINS AND LEADS.

SOMEHOW, IN MY SLEEP, THE DOGS TURNED AND SPUN AROUND AND THROUGH ME.

AND NOW I CAN FEEL THEM PULLING IN EVERY DIRECTION.

(DOGS)

10th June, 2002. 2:57 pm. DOGS UNTIL THE WORLD ENDS

IF A DOG WAS A LINE IT WOULD GO ON FOREVER.

IF A DOG WAS A CIRCLE ITS CIRCUMFERENCE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MEASURE.

IF A DOG WAS A POEM ITS BEAUTY WOULD BE JUST AS IMPOSSIBLE TO MEASURE.

IF A DOG WAS A SONG IT WOULD BE IN OUR MOUTHS, ALWAYS.

(DOGS)

23rd May, 2002. 7:30 am. DOG ALONE

ONE BARKS OUTSIDE, I CAN HEAR HIM.

CHASING THE SPRING MORNING UP INTO THE AIR.

CHASING THE SONGS OF THE BIRDS.

CHASING THE FLOWERS OFF THE TREES.

STILL RUNNING, STILL JOYOUS, STILL ALIVE.

CHASING THE WORLD AS IT SPINS.

DOGS WILL ALWAYS BE DOGS.

8th April, 2002. 3:50 pm. DOGLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

SOMETHING ODD HAPPENED ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

IT WAS THREE IN THE MORNING AND THEN IT WAS FOUR IN THE MORNING WITHOUT THE INTERIM HOURS.

THE CLOCK SAID THREE AND THEN THE CLOCK SAID FOUR.

AND THEN THERE WERE DOGS ALL OVER ME.

FALL BACK. FALL BACK!

16th March, 2002. 9:02 pm. DOGZEN

THE FIRST KOAN GOES:

THE STUDENT ASKED THE MASTER "DOES THAT DOG HAVE BUDDHA NATURE?"

HIS MASTER REPLIED "MU."

BUT ISN'T IT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY HAVE DOG NATURE?

(DOGS)

11th February, 2002. 4:00 pm. LETTING THEM LIE

DOGS LAYING CURLED UP AT THE FOOT OF THE BIG, BIG BED.

A PILE OF FURRY BREATHING, EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING.

LYING ATOP EACH OTHER, THE BED WARMED BY THEIR MASSED HEAT.

A BLANKET OF DOGS ATOP OUR FEET.

WE ARE ALL PERFECTLY, GENTLY ASLEEP.

DOGS.

4th February, 2002. 1:19 pm. DOG SICKNESS

THE DOGS HAVE MOVED INSIDE FOR THE WINTER.

THEIR FUR SCRATCHES THE TOP OF MY THROAT.

I SNEEZE AND IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR TINY YELPS.

I COUGH AND THEY FRANTICALLY HOLD ON TO MY TONSILS, MY EXHALATIONS RUFFLING THEIR FUR.

I BLOW MY NOSE AND WET DOGS SCAMPER INTO THE KLEENEX, SHAKING THEMSELVES VIGOROUSLY.

TO PUNISH ME THEY BITE, WHICH ONLY MAKES ME COUGH MORE.

THE DOGS HAVE BEDDED DOWN IN MY SINUSES.

THE DOGS HAVE SPILLED GIN IN MY BRAIN.

ALL I CAN DO IS SLEEP, ALL THEY CAN DO IS SLEEP, ALL WE CAN DO IS SLEEP.

DOGS.

18th January, 2002. 11:17 pm. DRUNKEN DOGS

THE DOGS HAVE NOT EATEN ALL DAY.

THEY HAD ME POUR SOME MODERATELY EXPENSIVE BEER INTO THEIR BOWLS.

THEY LAPPED IT UP WITH PINK AND BLACK TONGUES.

NOW THEY STUMBLE AND STAGGER IN OSCILLATING OVALS AROUND THE APARTMENT.

"WE'RE NOT DRUNK," THEY SAY.

"LET US CATCH OUR BREATH."

PUFFS OF BEER CONDENSE IN THE WINTER AIR.

7th January, 2002. 8:53 pm. A NEW PROJECT

THE DOGS HAVE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS.

THEY HAVE SENT ME TO RADIO SHACK WITH STOLEN AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDS AND BLUEPRINTS.

APPARENTLY I AM TO BUILD A USB KEYBOARD THE SIZE OF A SECTIONAL LOVESEAT.

THE SPACE BAR, WHEN PRESSED, WILL EMIT THE SMELL OF BACON.

I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT I AM MAKING MYSELF OBSOLETE.

2nd January, 2002. 5:13 pm. 2002

WE WERE ON THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.

DOGS SEETHED AROUND ME LIKE A HAIRY TORNADO.

THE CLOCK ON THE WATCHTOWER BUILDING WAS TICKING DOWN.

MIDNIGHT.

"RABBIT, RABBIT, RABBIT," I YELLED FOR LUCK.

AND THE DOGS CHASED THEM INTO THE NEW SKY.

26th November, 2001. 2:41 pm. CATS (JUST KIDDING)

NO, DOGS.

WE HAVE COME TO SOME SORT OF TENUOUS UNDERSTANDING.

I NOW FEEL THAT I CAN MAKE JOKES ABOUT THE ISSUE.

ONE IS, HOWEVER, WATCHING ME AS I TYPE THIS.

HE FOUND THE CATS (JUST KIDDING) JOKE AMUSING.

I PRAY THAT HE FINDS THE OTHER JOKES AMUSING AS WELL.

3rd November, 2001. 3:24 pm. AUTUMN DOGS

DOGS RUNNING WITH THE SAP

LURKING BEHIND THE FIREWOOD

BARKING IN TIME WITH THE RINGS OF THE TELEPHONE

IN AUTUMN THEY BECOME DECEPTIVE

THEY HIDE

AND THEY WILL BITE YOU AS YOU SLEEP

9th October, 2001. 1:28 pm. HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

THE DOGS SENT ME A POSTCARD FROM MAINE

WRITTEN ON THE BACK (THEY CAN WRITE?):

"WE ARE RUNNING THROUGH VERDANT FIELDS"

"WE ARE LAPPING SYRUP FROM THE MAPLE TREES"

"WE ARE BRINGING ON WINTER"

"ARE YOU STILL THERE?"

"SOME FAT GUY WANTS TO FIGHT YOU"

"WE'D BITE HIM BUT WE ARE WATCHING OUR WEIGHT"

"DOGS"

I HAD TO PAY POSTAGE BECAUSE THEY FORGOT THE STAMP.

28th September, 2001. 10:31 am. WHY? WHY WHY WHY?

THE DOGS HAVE GONE?

I THINK THEY MERELY LIE IN WAIT, OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

THEIR SNUFFLING BREATHING REMINDS ME OF.

DOGS.

27th September, 2001. 2:40 pm. LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND

THE DOGS ARE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR. THEY CARRY STICKS IN THEIR MOUTH AND USE THEM AS TOOLS.

TAP TAP TAP.

DO I DARE OPEN THE DOOR? I KNOW THE DOGS ARE THERE.

IF YOU ARE ANGRY AT ME, PLEASE COME INSIDE AND WE CAN DISCUSS.

DOGS AND RED WINE.

26th September, 2001. 10:06 pm. DOGS AROUND US

IF YOU TRY TO TALK TO A DOG ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS HE WILL JUST BITE YOU.

THE DOGS COME FROM THE MOON AND TAKE US AWAY FROM ALL OF THIS.

IN THEIR MOUTHS ARE SPRIGS OF JUNIPER AND ELDERBERRIES.

A GLASS OF GIN, A WATER GLAS OF GIN, A GLASS EMPTIED.

THE DOGS ARE COMING.

5th September, 2001. 11:15 pm. ARUGH

TODAY THE DOGS CAME

BAGS OF DIRT FROM THE MOON

MY FEELINGS MADE THEM FEEL

SAD.

all content copyright 2001-2005 K. Thor Jensen