Dogs enrich the lives of their owners with comedy, love, and joy. They can also serve as an endless supply of inspiration for musicians, artists, and sculptures. It’s easy to understand why our pets might inspire us because they have such a profound effect on our lives.
Consider the famous paintings of dogs playing poker. Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s 18-piece series of paintings is instantly identifiable and adored by many. A statue of a dog named Hachiko was built in Tokyo in the 1920s to honor the memory of how he would travel to the railway station each day to wait for his master. Dolly Parton wrote the poignant ballad “Crackerjack” about the stray dog she rescued who was her childhood closest friend and the subject of the song.
The animals in their lives can have an impact on writers as well. Discover some of our greatest poetry about dogs by continuing to read.
The Top 12 Most Popular Poems About Dogs
The Power of the Dog by Rudyard Kipling
A lovely poem called The Power of the Dog explores the significant bond we form with our canine friends. It makes mention of the regrettable truth that our pets only have a fleeting presence in our life despite the joy they bring during their brief time here and the grief they leave behind. “Brothers and Sisters, I warn you not to let a dog rip at your heart.”
A Dog Has Died by Pablo Neruda
A Dog Has Died is a heartbreaking poem that examines companionship and the bond between humans and animals. Neruda introduces the reader to his dog, emphasizing how he never showed excessive devotion and always followed his own path. Near the end of the poem, the author talks about how happy his dog was doing ordinary things and how he envies dogs for having a “shameless soul.”
Dog by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
At first glance, Dog could appear to be a poem about a dog experiencing the world, but upon closer examination, you’ll discover a deeper and more philosophically sophisticated poetry on free will and religion. We enjoy the picture and how Ferlinghetti illustrates how differently dogs view the world, despite the fact that this poem is ultimately not about dogs.
To Flush, My Dog by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A 21-line poem titled To Flush, My Dog expresses the gratitude and devotion Browning, Flush the cocker spaniel’s owner, had for her pet. The way Browning describes her dog’s appearance and temperament is “Like a lady’s ringlets brown, flow thine silken ears adown.” She calls her dog her “dear companion” and praises his devotion.
My Dog Practices Geometry by Cathryn Essinger
A humorous poem called My Dog Practices Geometry explores the topics of writing and animal and human interactions. Throughout order to give a dog human characteristics, Essinger used personification frequently in this composition. According to Essinger herself, personification is a literary device that many poets avoid using. This poem makes excellent use of it to paint a stunning picture of the poet’s dog chasing things in her backyard.
Epitaph to a Dog by Lord Byron
In memory of the poet’s Newfoundland dog, Boatswain, who had recently passed away from rabies, Epitaph to a Dog was composed. This heartfelt homage touches on both death and human nature. Byron wonders why some people think that dogs’ lives are not as important as those of humans. Dogs, according to him, are “unhonored,” “unnoticed,” and even “denied in Heaven.” Actually, Boatswain’s tomb, which is amusingly larger than his owners, has this poem engraved on it.
Lost Dog by Ellen Bass
The poem “Lost Dog” describes what it’s like to lose a dog and then have it come back to you. It examines the close bond we have with our pets and the interactions between animals and people. As you could have surmised from the title, the poem’s first half is devoid of the author’s dog. He does make his way home eventually, and Bass claims that every time she sees him, “joy does another circuit around the racetrack of my heart,” which is a sentiment we believe every pet owner can identify with.
The Dog by Ogden Nash
Every poem does not have to have numerous literary devices and underlying themes. The Dog, a four-line poem, gets right to the point by emphasizing how lovable dogs are. However, Nash asserts that when they are wet, they are the most “lovingest.”
Mother Doesn’t Want a Dog by Judith Viorst
A comical look at a mother-child connection in which the mother flatly declines the child’s request for a pet is presented in Mother Doesn’t Want a Dog. In the poem, Mother is quoted as saying that dogs are odorous, noisy, and messy. Mother is unaware that the young child narrating the poem is actually about to bring home a snake.
The Ballad of Rum by Peter R. Wolveridge
The Ballad of Rum examines the connection that a family can have with a pet. Rum was a stray dog who one day found his way into the author’s garden and was welcomed as a part of the family. Rum had to contribute at home by keeping an eye out for cats, toads, cattle, and horses. Rum believed that everyone wanted to be his friend, hence he wasn’t the finest guard dog when it came to humans. When a burglar crept into the yard, Rum, who was “delighted with company this time of the night,” ran to the burglar to receive pets but unintentionally scared him away. This worked in the author’s advantage.
Dharma by Billy Collins
The poem Dharma examines the meaning of existence and the interactions between people and animals in great detail. Collins mentions how jealous he is that dogs do not have to worry about the things that consume so much of human mental energy. Dogs, he claims, “off she goes into the material world with nothing but her brown coat,” as they trot out the front door without a second thought. Dogs just have one life goal: “following only her wet nose.” They don’t look for things or have any other aspirations.
A Dog Called Beau by James Stewart
The moving poem “A Dog Called Beau” explores the bonds we form with our pets and the lasting effects of their passing. Stewart, a well-known actor, penned this essay in memory of Beau, his golden retriever, who passed unexpectedly while Stewart was away from home filming a movie. The poem’s opening paragraph introduces the reader to Beau and his amusing yet sometimes obstinate nature. The poem takes a turn at the conclusion when the author admits that his cherished pet has passed away and how difficult it is to carry on after losing our closest friends.
Final Thoughts
We feel privileged to have shared with you only a small sample of the many poets who have chosen to use their pen to capture the soul of their cherished pets. We hope you have liked reading the aforementioned 12 poems and that they have at least made you smile or moved you in some way.
Credit for the Featured Image: Edward Indy, Shutterstock
