A DOG'S TALE ( SEEN THROUGH THE WINDOWPAIN )

Often my doggies lie at the front door
and stare longingly at the world
through the windowpane.
They can see clearly
freedom,
sunshine,
wide open spaces
outside.

It seems to be right
within their reach,
yet something impenetrable
is in their way,
the nature of which
they cannot comprehend.

The mechanics of door opening
is a deep mystery to them
and they display great ingenuity
in trying to decipher this dilemma.

Sometimes they jump up and down at the door,
yapping and wagging their tails,
as if their impatience will
make the door open more quickly.

Other times they resort to aggressive tactics,
clawing at the handle or
digging under the sill
to force their way out.

Occasionally, they will lie patiently,
having great faith in their belief
that the door is destined to swing open
sooner or later.

Once in a while they act as if there is no door
at all, having convinced themselves
that they are outside already.

Aren't we all like them in a way?

Our noses too are pressed
against the closed door
of illusion and ignorance.

Beyond it we can clearly discern
freedom,
joy,
beauty.

And yet some inexplicable force
is keeping the access blocked
and we are forced to mimic
the actions of our pets
as we strive to reach the other side,
where ideal life lies.

Some of us jump impatiently up and down
as if this would make
happiness appear faster.

Some resort to aggressive tactics,
trying to force their way out of their misery
and ensnare contentment in their grasp.

Others wait patiently for joy to
come to them, having faith that
their virtuous behaviour will be rewarded
with bliss, if not in this life then the next.

A few delude themselves as well as others
into believing
that they have reached fulfillment already,
regardless of how they feel inside.

Most of us, however,
have lost all hope of ever seeing
the portal swing open
and spend all of our days gazing
wistfully
at the richness of life
through the windowpane
of our mind.

 

Reviews

[E. Maggard]

Great parallel- especially as I'm a dog lover and can see the dogs doing all this- and it's a true description. This is how dogs are. The great transition is placing these observations upon humanity. True, and sadly sweet. My people, we burn so slowly....

[JC]

Touche.....

I love the connect between human and animal, we are, after all, creatures of this earth.

This really made me think without being a piece that is over the top with in your face demands.

A great read!

JC

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

A thoughtful and prophetic write indeed. I like how you decipher the various ways that we all use to attempt to escape those caverns we have created in our lives. Well done.
Light,
Siddartha

[Toni Prehoda Kahler]

First of all, after reading through once, I thought "Windowpain" in title was perfect (did you intend or was it typo?) Anyway, I enjoyed this piece, though found myself wishing for less explanation of metaphor. You know, maybe ending it at "Aren't we all like them in a way?" because that lets me have my own flow of connections to self & others through poem. Some things didn't need to be clarified. (yes, I am freely digging around in your poem...)
At first I took the "doggies" to be perhaps your own feelings, or your poems, or something more about your own mysterious inner world, rather than the expansive explanation you gave me in the later stanzas, so enjoyed the switcheroo to some extent. However, I feel that the power of this piece lies in the narrower connections we readers might make, and in the self-revelation of the last stanza.
I don't know why I have such an intense desire to tinker with this piece! Now that I have read through it several times, I keep wanting that last stanza to follow the question "Aren't we all like them in a way?" I am perhaps in rebellion against the "telling" of the stanzas between. But hey, Boris - don't mind me : ) I am quite fond of your style!
My favorite metaphor: "The mechanics of door opening/is a deep mystery to them"
Enjoyed this journey!

[An owl on the moon]

Was reading through the eyes of our small bishon, and then your words moved deeply from metaphor to more of us. You capture so well that sense of longing and desire for something just out of reach. Brilliant insights!