fragmented sleep
with vivid dreams
of hunting and being hunted
elusive prey
illusive stalkers
and whimpering in the night
[huff, huff, huff]
another sweltering day
scratching, striving, reaching
for that spot
between broken shoulders
weighted with exhaustion
comfortless weeks on end
without relief
without release
I feel them crawling
across ragged skin
torn and bleeding
wishing they would die
or that I could
and no longer caring which
in this seemingly endless
season of the flea
Author notes
~woof 
A contest entry
- Running On Empty by Touchof1der.
600 points, ended August 27, 2008, 15 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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ugh... gross.... fleas!!!
Poor puppy! It's a sad image - one of an old dog, stuck in the heat, injured, consumed by fleas, and unable to escape it with sleep...
Thanks for the downer!
On the positive side - it's so great to see you writing again. And... you still have a way with carrying themes out through the entire poem!
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Fleas by Ogden Nash
Adam
Had'emHow cute to see a poem about something with six legs
by someone with four legs.
~ c
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~woof
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In a word, this is simply fantastic. Best of luck to you in the contest. I appreciate your taking the time and making the effort to enter. I hope it proved to be an enjoyable experience and challenge for you.
♥ Touchof1der -
the way you make simple things jump out, and how you relate all of human life to mundane things like dogs with fleas as always your number one admirer
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Wow, what a wonderful take on the standpoint of the dog. And this year is really bad for fleas as well {sorry, had to throw that in, for my pets}. Great write
Take Care,
Dena -
Wonderful
Great take on the prompt. Very well done. Best of luck in the contest
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