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Thursday 31 January 2013

The Short Monologue of Candy's Dog

Dogs like us...
Ain't got no family trust,
Lyin' around this ol' bunk shed
With nothin left but to be led.
They's saying that I stink and smell
But I don't give a hoot'n' hell...

Maybe so I can't hardly stand
But I sure been the swamper's right hand.
Don't do nothin' now but suck on meat
Can't stand upon my own four feet
Still, I got him and he's got me
The closest we got to family...

Who's this takin' me out for air?
They's talkin' about me, but I can't hear,
Why's Candy sittin' so still over there?
Hey, what's that gun doin' at my ear...



At poetry jam we were invited to write from the point of view of an animal. As I've been teaching "Of Mice and Men" again recently to my S4 class, this point of view came to mind. If you can bear to watch, there's a movie clip below :(


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31 comments:

  1. Brian Miller31 January 2013 at 03:33

    oh dang...your closure on this got my heart thumping...sad...when it is time to put them down...

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  2. Mary31 January 2013 at 04:03

    This is so sad, sad, sad. What a tragic fate for such a loyal companion. It breaks my heart really, but it is SO well written. (And, no, having three dogs of my own, I couldn't bring myself to watch the video!)

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    1. ND Mitchell31 January 2013 at 12:00

      Don't blame you for not watching Mary, having those three dogs...

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  3. Mary31 January 2013 at 04:05

    P.S. Am now following your blog!

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  4. Sarav31 January 2013 at 06:09

    Hi ND! I can't watch that either, I read the book, Steinbeck is one of my favorites :-) Excellent poem! PS left you a birding link on my blog:-)

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  5. Grace31 January 2013 at 06:33

    Great voice, I can imagine you reading this out loud ~

    I find the ending sad though ~

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  6. Helen31 January 2013 at 06:54

    Stellar writing ... you brought the scene to life (vividly.) Reminding me of a time my grandfather had to let go of his old beagle Butchie... that was so sad.

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  7. Amrit Sinha31 January 2013 at 07:47

    Oh ... the last line felt so cold ... superbly narrated ... brought a chill on my spine !!!

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  8. Margaret31 January 2013 at 08:20

    Powerful poem ... and I have never seen this version of M&M... riveting (thank GOD I didn't hear the gun go off!)

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    1. ND Mitchell31 January 2013 at 12:24

      Thanks Margaret-the whole film is a good one.

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  9. Jennifer Wagner31 January 2013 at 08:54

    Love your voice here ND. I've read the book and watched that version several times...and that scene gets me every time. Positively smashing write.

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    1. ND Mitchell31 January 2013 at 12:25

      Thanks Jennifer. True that this scene is hard to take.

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  10. Peggy31 January 2013 at 10:31

    This is so very hard to read. Wonderful dog voice. Of Mice and Men is one of those hard stories I think--sad, sad, sad.

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  11. ND Mitchell31 January 2013 at 12:26

    Kind of you to say so :)

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  12. Optimistic Existentialist31 January 2013 at 13:25

    Very well done - quite unique. I have always loved the story of Mice and Men. I loved the John Malcovich version.

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  13. Sherry Blue Sky31 January 2013 at 13:26

    Oh yikes, I so adore dogs, especially old dogs that are tired from loving their humans so well. The ending was hard to read and there is no way I could watch the clip. You wrote this so well, it felt like the poor old fella speaking.

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  14. Sherry Blue Sky31 January 2013 at 13:27

    p.s. Would you please email me at wildwoman2@shaw.ca ? Have a question for you, kiddo!

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    Replies
    1. ND Mitchell1 February 2013 at 11:17

      Thanks Sherry. Tried to earlier but didnt work. Will try again later from my computet :-)

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  15. Judy Roney31 January 2013 at 14:51

    Oh, my gosh. This one blows me away. I can see this scene so clearly. Great poem, well crafted to the powerful, surprise ending.

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  16. Fireblossom31 January 2013 at 16:32

    Lord above. Count me among those who can't handle this.

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  17. Unknown1 February 2013 at 11:35

    Two dogs here, can't watch the video, but your poem is so well written from the dog's perspective.

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Thanks for leaving a comment. Have a great day :)