Skip to main content

Old Pete

I was talking to a friend about the poetry group I belong to today.

I was reminded of this poem I wrote in response to a challenge to write something in a rhyming style.

This picture is not Old Pete, but it looks enough like him--if you add a good twenty pounds:

Ode to Pete

Old Pete, he was a good old hound.
A better friend could not be found.
He never barked; he didn’t growl,
But for a biscuit, he would howl.
He liked to lie upon his bed.
His only trick was playing dead.
He had no truck with chasing sticks.
He wanted dinner right at six.
To fetch a ball, he did not choose.
He suffered cats who came in twos.
If you should chance to stop and linger, 
And you were just the kind of singer
Who had the heart to sing the blues,
Then Pete would join with his A-roos.


Olga
March, 2015

 Pete was named for a Civil War general,  James Longstreet.  I am not sure why other than the fact that Mike was a keen student of history.

This is not something I would typically write but the challenge was made and I had to give it a try.  The inspiration came as I was walking through the Farmer's Market and there was a man walking a blood hound nearby.  The hound started baying in that unique hound way and I was immediately brought to thoughts of Old Pete and a blues band singer named Dana who used to sometimes come by for a few beers and a duet.

Comments

  1. You have tried good. Sounds good...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Olga, I love it. Good Old Pete, and good on you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's a great aabb scheme, and I love the idea of Pete howling!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice. Old Pete sounds a little like our Sophie -- lie upon the bed, playing dead, dinner at six. And "A better friend could not be found."

    ReplyDelete
  5. Finally, poetry I can understand and enjoy. Pete sounds like he was a real character and was obviously much loved. Enjoyed this post.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's a fun poem and brings Old Pete to life for us. He sounds like he was quite the character!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm really, really impressed Olga. This is such a fabulous poem. I love the rhyming and rhythm.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Isn't that fun, playing with words? Good for you. We are on day 5 of 7 babysitting. I AM So TIRED!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Old Pete sounds like a wonderful dog! Your poem was a beautiful ode to him.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I appreciate readers' comments so much. You don't even always have to agree with me.

Popular posts from this blog

Updates

 On September 29, I had the closing on my condo. Everything that was not going to the buyers was out and packed in the ABF moving truck which had by the been taken over to the storage units. Don thought it would take him until Wednesday to finish packing the truck with the help of his son. It took him until late Thursday with Chris' help and mine. Kevin was supposed to help load as well but he was in a mountain bike accident and wrecked his shoulder the week before. That added driving him to doctor appointments to my to do list and dong some shopping for him plus jobs around the house that might need two functioning upper limbs.  We stayed with Kevin on Friday night after the closing and then had a suite in an extended stay place for the coming week. This was the worst possible time to have to get a room because the prices balloon during leaf peeping season if you can even find a room at all. But it was close to the storage units where we were working and it was dog friendly. We ju

Wedding

 Don and I drove to South Carolina to attend the wedding of my step-grandson, Will. Will Will and Katie The wedding took place on Dataw Island, a beautiful outdoor ceremony followed by a reception in the country club. We stayed in a tiny cottage in the historic center of Beaufort, rented from Vrbo. Since the wedding was at 5 p.m., we had time to explore the area a bit. I really like the low country scenery and historical charm. Sitting quietly in the curtained gazebo I was visited by multiple cardinals. They came to visit the feeder, not me, but I can always pretend! How I will always remember Will!

Rest In Peace

 In a summer that has been so wet, Sunday was a reprieve. The humidity dropped and the sun came out. It was a day that could have been special ordered by the family of a friend's husband. It was the day they had arranged his celebration of life ceremony set on the shore of Lake Champlain. I was not looking forward to the gathering, even couched as a celebration. This is a family fraught with relationship tensions. It turned out to be a beautiful day and a beautiful ceremony. A Catholic priest gave a brief but meaningful homily and two Air Force members played "Taps" and presented the American flag to my friend. I am not a Christian, but I do know about Christ Consciousness. That priest's word's filled me with such a sense of peace and love. I hope it did the same for the family members and neighbors who attended.