Teaching New Dogs Old Tricks

Speaking in metaphors

 

Perceiving life in black and white

Dog tagged for an identity

My bark subdued when trained to bite

Servile in my bigotry

Kept in darkness, but offered light

When I learn my Master’s tricks

By leader guided to the fight

I jumped razor hoops then dug a ditch

To chase the vermin from their holes

Then run them to the ground

I left sticky bombs along the road

As I was taken back to the pound

There my coat was brushed for show

To join the grand parade

Of the mongrel breed- the first to go

Outside the barricades

Beaten down for my mistakes

Though I obeyed the lot He’d said

My Master took me to the gates

Said, ‘Roll Over!’- I played dead.

Then my Master played His favourite game

And I ran to fetch His Styx

As un-tethered from His choking chain

I tore His enemy to bits.

 

Reviews

[Invisible Ink]

I'm not sure I even need to read the other contest submissions, but since I have committed myself too, I am not stopping to review b/c there are so many, instead I'm giving stars and yours is 5 out of 5. Great!

[Katherine Wyatt]

Oh...very subtle.. deeply impressive Spence...We are training Cerebus to guard the gates of...politicians egos and bank accounts..Fantastic!

[S.S.P.]

fine job spence, fine indeed. and if i've understood the meaning correctly, you are brave in choosing this subject matter. military man? Very good!