Definition of the Dog

by

Frank Valentyn

It's necessary to study the tailwag here
long extinct in humans
although by remarkable genetic circumstance, some are born
with little vestigial bits that cannot be taught to wag

Then, there is its improvement in docking
which humans are expert at
as if by extension of vision
and literal afterthought
that which was amputated swings along at slower speed
and larger amplitude, constant reminder of what could have been
but was augmented by its removal

Strange choice of word, it may be thought
used for the arrival and accurate positioning of ships
at some solid destination for loading or unloading
of things important
and indeed it is the accurate positioning of singular human ambition
symbolised and visited upon the canine hindquarter
docked there as icon of improvement
not on, but of nature

A Neopavlovian response to vogue
genetically imprinted in Homo Speculans
seemingly as automated as ringing-bell elicitation, in some
with its own special complement of surgical instrumentation
that is an extension of the human design
sharp metallic fingers distending the human arm
as an occasional alternative to its standard form
that could play Mozart with undocked ears
listening to something infinitely beyond
yet as beautiful as a distant bark on morning-misted hills

NEXT?
Why don't you look at They called this place Killarney
by: Francis Duggan
from: Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia

To visit all of Frank Valentyn's poems, click HERE

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