Saptarishi
Friday, April 21, 2006
Why the dogs stopped flying?
Every once in a while I come across a poem that really makes me think about humanity. While browsing through the Internet some days ago, I came across this poem by Dr. Kenneth W. Brewer. Dr. Brewer died recently in 2006. I never knew his work before reading this poem.
I am not much of a poet. I do not have the sensitivity that a human being should have in order to express feelings and emotions in few words. Therefore, whenever I see literary works that touch me deeply, I tend to make a note of them. I want to share this wonderful poem with all my friends who read this blog. The poem also provide a teasing glimpse into the mind of a very sensitive man.
I am not much of a poet. I do not have the sensitivity that a human being should have in order to express feelings and emotions in few words. Therefore, whenever I see literary works that touch me deeply, I tend to make a note of them. I want to share this wonderful poem with all my friends who read this blog. The poem also provide a teasing glimpse into the mind of a very sensitive man.
Why Dogs Stopped Flying
by Kenneth W. Brewer
Before humans,
dogs flew everywhere.
Their wings of silky fur
wrapped hollow bones.
Their tails wagged
like rudders through wind,
their stomachs bare
to the sullen earth.
Out of sorrow
for the first humans--
stumbling, crawling,
helpless and cold--
dogs folded their
great wings into paws
soft enough to walk
beside us forever.
They still weep for us,
pity our small noses,
our unfortunate eyes,
our dull teeth.
They lick our faces clean,
keep us warm at night.
Sometimes they remember flying
and bite our ugly hands.
