This is the hardest part:
When I came back to life
I was a good family dog
and not too friendly to strangers.
I got a thirty-five dollar raise
in salary, and through the pea-soup fogs
I drove the General, and introduced him
at rallies. I had a totalitarian approach
and was a massive boost to his popularity.
I did my best to reduce the number of people.
The local bourgeoisie did not exist.
One of them was a mystic
and walked right over me
as if I were a bed of hot coals.
This is par for the course-
I will be employing sundry golf metaphors
henceforth, because a dog, best friend
and chief advisor to the General, should.
While dining with the General I said,
“Let’s play the back nine in a sacred rage.
Let’s tee-off over the foredoomed community
and putt ourselves thunderously, touching bottom.”
He drank it all in, rugged and dusky.
I think I know what he was thinking.
He held his automatic to my little head
and recited a poem about my many weaknesses,
for which I loved him so.
(James Tate)
More Poetry from James Tate:
James Tate Poems based on Topics: Thought & Thinking, People, Dogs, Poetry, Literature, Fame, Anger- The List of Famous Hats (James Tate Poems)
- Shut Up And Eat Your Toad (James Tate Poems)
- Never Again The Same (James Tate Poems)
- The Lost Pilot (James Tate Poems)
- Happy As The Day Is Long (James Tate Poems)
- The Wrong Way Home (James Tate Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Thought & Thinking Poems, Literature Poems, People Poems, Anger Poems, Fame Poems, Poetry Poems, Dogs PoemsBased on Keywords: salary, recited, weaknesses, boost, rallies, putt, thirty-five, foredoomed, dining, automatic, introduced