All About Books discussion

Walking the Dog on the Night before He Is to Be Fixed


As far as I can tell, old chum, neuter
is neither here nor there, but in-between,
a state that has a certain charm, like pewter,
prized for durability, if not for sheen.

Tomorrow night you’ll stroll in wary fashion
after the sleep, the knife, the careful scars
that promise to put an end to wayward passion
not to mention long-imagined wars

for territorial rights, a lady’s paw.
Tomorrow the thermostat is set on cold
in calculated stern hormonal law.
What I know of this is what I’m told:

All veterans must come before the vet
on calendars either canine or lunar.
All lose that first fine frenzy to beget
whether it be later, friend, or sooner.

I toast us both then, Franz, in our decrease,
though there’s no way for you to know that I’m
also tugging manfully at the leash,
waiting doggedly for the nick of time.

"Walking the Dog on the Night before He Is to Be Fixed" by John Stone from Where Water Begins.

Great poem, Terri. What an interesting subject to write poetry about!

I thought so too, Heather. I love the ending.

Yes, neutering is something a man would surely write about, lol. But it is a great poem, Terri.

Glad you liked it, B. :)

I like the idea of the man talking to the dog during their walk about what is coming - even as a woman, I can relate to that.

Great choice Terri - thanks for sharing!

Thanks Terri
HaHa, I guess many of us dog owners try to explain to our dogs what is coming - even though we know they can't understand.

Can anyone help me understand the line
All veterans must come before the vet

As far as "veterans before the vet" and then on to the ending, I take it to mean that everyone has an appointment with destiny, whether human or canine. And though the man is speaking to the dog about a specific procedure, he's likening that to his own appointment with death, "the nick of time." (And the addition of "doggedly" completes the metaphor.)

I do remember feeling so sorry for Charlie after he was neutered. (Though he recovered quickly and hardly seemed to notice.)

Men generally seem much more sympathetic to a dog's plight in this regard than women 😉

This proves you can write poetry about anything...thanks Terri!

Very true, Susie! Have you ever known a man who's had a vasectomy? Case closed. :)

Ha ha, great poem! A serious treatment of what we usually make fodder for jokes, with a meditative turn at the end. Nicely served.

Glad you liked it, Owen. :)