SAYS THE TREE IN THE DOG PARK ~ rough draft
by April Halprin Wayland
I’m just a small tree
trying to be
healthy and green and alive.
But now I can see
though you may disagree
that this park’s not a place I can thrive.
One dog trots by
and gives me the eye
then he pees, which means “I’m a hot shot!”
Before I can try
to towel or drip dry,
A second dog comes to that spot.
She crouches and pees
and seems very pleased,
saying, “I’M here—the last guy is not.”
The first dog comes back
to beef up his tracks
and make sure his message’s not blurred.
I’m just a small tree
trying hard to stay green
while each dog strives to have the last word.
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Some days the dog park just hands me a poem.
First Eli marked the tiny tree (it only came up to his hip). Then Bailey marked it. Then Eli came and marked on top of hers. Then she came back to mark over his. And one of my dog park friends said, “Someone’s gotta have the last word!” I mean, how can you NOT write that one?
This is another mask poem–one written from the point of view of an inanimate object or animal.
It’s composed of seven three-line stanzas. Three-line stanzas are called tercets.
The rhyming pattern of this poem is: AAB, AAB, CCD, CCD, AAD, EEF, AA(slant rhyme)F.
When one line doesn’t quite rhyme with another, it’s called a slant rhyme.
Bruce writes: “Funny. Meter changes in the last lines of the last two stanza so I stumbled when reading it out loud.”
This is why having a critique partner like Bruce is so helpful. 🙂
Tree standing very still, trying not to attract attention.