Pages

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Poem #24: Raising Rooney- "Training Class: A Poem in Two Voices"

Rooney and I go to training class together on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. It's always interesting, to put it mildly. He's gotten much better as he's gotten older, but when he was younger, it was awful. We would practice and practice and practice, and then we'd get to class, and he'd see his friends, and get really excited, and forget everything he had ever learned. A poem in two voices seemed the perfect format. 

Rooney at a training class outing, Summer 2020

"Rooney at Training Classes: A Poem in Two Voices"


                                I am a service dog-in-training.

I am a good boy.
                                                     I am a party animal
I go to school every day.
                                                    I go to class twice a month. 
I enter the building calmly. 
                                                    I lunge through the door.
                                                    Mama and I try again
                                                    Usually several times. 
I respond to my name. 
                                                    I don't know my name.
I greet people nicely. 
                                                    I forget four on the floor.
                                                    I lick my trainer's face. 
                                                    I sniff my friends' butts. 
I settle in my bed. 
I go to my sleep. 

                                                    I go to my mat.
                                                    With several reminders.
                                                    I try to settle but my head 
                                                    keeps popping up.
I am very quiet.
Sometimes I snore.    
                                                    I whine a lot.
                                                    Sometimes I bark. 
                                                    Oops. 
We practice a lot. 
I know my commands. 
I can recall from half a city block
Even if there are treats on the floor.
                                                Clearly mama doesn't work with me.  
                                                I don't know any commands.
                                                I can recall ten feet. 
                                                but I sometimes take detours
                                                for other dogs. 
I am a good boy. 
                                                I am a party animal. 

                        I am a service-dog-in training.
                                                

5 comments:

Linda B said...

I can feel your frustration as those weeks happened, Carol. But now we know Rooney is better! Great choice of form for sure!

Ramona said...

Rooney is a service dog-in-training, struggling with his party animal persona.
I love this line:
"I try to settle but my head
keeps popping up."
Your right, a poem in two voices was perfect for this one.

Mary Lee said...

This just makes me laugh!

Laura Lynn Benson said...

Love poetry in two voices or, in this case, two lovely perspectives XOXOX Brilliant!

LINDA PATRICIA said...

I AM MRS. LINDA AND I WANT To TESTIFY ABOUT HOW DR AKHERE HELPED ME IN GETTING BACK MY EX HUSBAND WHO LEFT ME AND MY KIDS FOR ANOTHER WOMAN AND TODAY I AM VERY FULFILLED BECAUSE MY HUSBAND Is BACK To ME AFTER I CONTACTED DR AKHERE TO HELP ME , I'm very happy now with my family it worked for me and I believe it will work for you too just give him a try and follow up this is a clear truth from a testifier. Thank you Dr AKHERE once again, if you want to reach him via email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com or call / whatsapp: +2349057261346



































I AM MRS. LINDA AND I WANT To TESTIFY ABOUT HOW DR AKHERE HELPED ME IN GETTING BACK MY EX HUSBAND WHO LEFT ME AND MY KIDS FOR ANOTHER WOMAN AND TODAY I AM VERY FULFILLED BECAUSE MY HUSBAND Is BACK To ME AFTER I CONTACTED DR AKHERE TO HELP ME , I'm very happy now with my family it worked for me and I believe it will work for you too just give him a try and follow up this is a clear truth from a testifier. Thank you Dr AKHERE once again, if you want to reach him via email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com or call / whatsapp: +2349057261346





















































































I AM MRS. LINDA AND I WANT To TESTIFY ABOUT HOW DR AKHERE HELPED ME IN GETTING BACK MY EX HUSBAND WHO LEFT ME AND MY KIDS FOR ANOTHER WOMAN AND TODAY I AM VERY FULFILLED BECAUSE MY HUSBAND Is BACK To ME AFTER I CONTACTED DR AKHERE TO HELP ME , I'm very happy now with my family it worked for me and I believe it will work for you too just give him a try and follow up this is a clear truth from a testifier. Thank you Dr AKHERE once again, if you want to reach him via email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com or call / whatsapp: +2349057261346

































AKO SI MRS. LINDA AT GUSTO KO NONG MAGPATOTONG TUNGKOL SA KUNG PAANONG NAKATULONG SA AKIN SI DR AKHERE SA PAGBALIK SA AKING EX HUSBAND NA INIWAN AKO AT ANG AKING ANAK NG ISANG ISANG BABAE AT NGAYON AY NAPUNAN AKO KASI DAHIL ANG BANA KO AY BUMALIK SA AKIN MATAPOS NA KONTAK AKO SA DR AKHERE TO HELP ME, Napakasaya ko ngayon kasama ang aking pamilya na gumana ito para sa akin at naniniwala akong gagana ito para sa iyo lamang subukan mo lang at subaybayan ito ay isang malinaw na katotohanan mula sa isang nagpapatotoo. Maraming salamat muli Dr AKHERE, kung nais mong maabot siya sa pamamagitan ng email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com o tumawag / whatsapp: +2349057261346