Poetry Presentation“To A Dog”

By Airyn Lancaster

To A DogEmily Yukes

Oh, wise hound!Oh, fur of red!

Your noble head;Dog-King.

Protecting the Master,Hunting the moose,Ratting the mouse;

My Servant.Head on my lap,Eating my food,

Understanding my mood;Dear Friend.

Summary of the Meaning/Theme

This poem is an ode to the adoration and loyalty of a dog (the author’s noble pet, in particular). It alludes to the best qualities dogs possess, and hints at the human admiration and want for these qualities. “To A Dog” also touches on the bond between human and animal, and how despite the love in such a bond there is still the factors of mastery and servantry. It displays that with compassion the relationship between human and dog can be similar to that between parent and child.

Critique

The first four lines set the tone for the poem, bringing up the subject (also mentioned in the title) and a few aspects of the subject. He is clearly the apple of his mistress’ eye (line 4, “Dog-King”). With the author’s love for the dog stated, she goes on to list actions proving the dog’s love for her. The unspoken bond between human and dog (line 11, “Understanding my mood”) is accented by a comical aspect (line 10, “Eating my food”) and compassion (line 9, “Head on my lap”).