Monday, January 28, 2019

"Duke" (A Poem about a family dog) (1967/1968)

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44


Below are photos of beloved family pets we've had over the years. Could not find one of "Duke", who this blogpost is really about. Read on for the entire story:


                                                   (Cammy) (Female / Mixed Breed) (circa 1968 - 1981)
                                                   (Family pet when I was a child, with my parents and sister -                                                                     some years after "Duke")


                                                      (Buff) (Male / Cocker Spaniel) (1998 - 2012)
                                                      (Family pet with my own family and Son)
                                                             

Today I was revising my collection of poems which I have written over the years, when my thoughts took me back to a time when I was a very young child who had a great opportunity to write her very first poem. I would like to share that very first, and very short, poem ever written by me during my youth. I was eleven years old, in fifth grade, attending Public School 132 (circa 1967/1968), in Brooklyn, New York. I believe this was a class assignment. We were asked to write a poem about a pet – or anything dear to us. I chose to write about our very first family pet, who was no longer with us at the time. He was our puppy “Duke”; a beautiful mixed breed (not sure what type of mix). We had to have him removed from the home years earlier, however, since he was a bit vicious. He bit everyone in the family whenever approached – my Dad, my Mom, my Sister and Me. Yes, I was sad because he was a cute fluffy ball of brown fur, with floppy ears that made him even cuter; but as an adult, I learned that a dog must never run the household, and a dog must never bite the hand that feeds him. Despite that, “Duke” will always have a special place in my heart. He was the first family dog/pet that we had the pleasure of loving and nurturing for less than a year before we had to give him up.

Anyway, back to the poem…After I wrote it and turned it in to class, I discovered that I had a passion, early on, for words, rhyming, poetry – and later, fiction. Throughout the rest of my life, I wrote all of it - and continue to do so in retirement. For many years it was just a passion I kept to myself. Unfortunately, some of those writings got misplaced over the years, never to be seen again. Today, however, I self-publish and share my writings with the world. Hopefully, readers will enjoy those writings as much as I enjoy writing them.

Well, here is that first short poem ever written by me, during my younger years; a time that would direct my life somehow - although I didn't realize it then. After all, I was just an eleven year old, fifth grade girl, submitting a poem as a class assignment - about her first family dog named “Duke”:
                                                            

"Duke"

I had a dog
who was very cute
He was big and brown
and what a brute
The only thing
he'd ever do
was eat and drink
the whole day through


And that's my story about my first family pet, my first short poem, and the discovery of a passion that would remain with me throughout my life.


...On Poetry and Fiction - Just "One Word" Away (Darkness)


 
 
 

 
 


            One word becomes one idea, becomes one sentence, becomes one poem, becomes one story. It must start from just “one word”. Today my one word is “Darkness”.

                                                            DARKNESS
           
            Darkness comes but once a day. I watch through my window as it turns the day into night and fiercely chases the sun away. It brings the stars and moon along, and it captivates those who dare to look…And me – Well I wait patiently each and every night as it enters my bedroom faithfully. It must visit and it must come; for there is no stopping it. It enters slowly and it enters silently as it spreads itself like a dense fog. It blankets me with icy hands as I pull my warm woolen covers across my bed and up to my neck. Darkness brings the beauty of the night, and the loneliness as well. It whispers of the loss of day and sedates you with its aura. Soon you fall into a deep sleep and dream of the coming morn. From dusk to dawn, from darkness to the first glow -  you cannot have one without the other. Remember, darkness must visit and darkness must come; for there is no stopping it. Without darkness there would be no night, without light there would be no day, without both there would be no life.      


DARKNESS

My window tells an honest tale
of sun, of stars, and moon
Where golden rays and sun-kissed days
are hidden much too soon

The darkness comes like a thief at night
My window tells no lie
It robs the world of broad daylight
And the bright blue magic sky

The darkness comes but once a day
While I wait so patiently
It captivates all those who dare
to watch it so complacently

Yes, it must visit - and it must come
There is no stopping it
It takes a slow and silent course
And settles down a bit

It spreads itself like a dense fog
With icy hands as cold as hell
It blankets me so eerily
As I pretend, in bed, that all is well

When I think it isn’t looking
I pull the covers up to my neck
I try to act so brave and bold
And keep my mind in check

It brings the beauty of the night
With loneliness in tow
From dusk to dawn it lingers some
As I await the morn’s first glow

It whispers of the loss of day
With an aura all its own
It fights to take my dreams away
  By sunrise - its cover is blown!

…Despite its teasing, nightly visits
There are lessons here to learn -
Without darkness, there would be no night
Without light there would be no day
Without both there would be no life to live
Hence darkness must have its way


NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

"Darkness" is a natural part of the cycle of our world. It will come and it will visit. There is no stopping it. We must embrace it. For along with the loneliness it may bring at times - it will always bring along the beauty of the night.