If you're Digby and you know it, wag your tail.
Digby approached me yesterday with a request to publish one of his poems. He told me he was very sensitive about his new hobby and was terrified (well, as far as fierce predators can feel "terrified") of criticism but that it was time to share his Sturm und Drang with the world because, not to be rude, he said, we (Lincoln and I) had no understanding of his inner life whatsoever. He also said, he had kind of lost it at the end, and apologizes for the language. He is not sure what got into him and it was tooootally out of character but he said it had to be left as it was for artistic honesty.
I must admit I'm not sure about this, but I'm under rather debilitating pressure here. It might not be obvious to you (nor to him, unfortunately) but Digby does suffer from permanent anxiety and his outbursts are very serious business. If you don't have a rat terrier, you do not. NOT. know what I am talking about. So, here it is. Please be gentle, it's one of his first pieces.
early morning
silence
except
for the birds
and the wind
and the neighbor's dog
the other neighbor's dog
and that sonofabitch squirrel
maybe or mabye not
messing up the yard
RIGHT NOW
then
suddenly
my master's voice
or a cough
or something
anything
it could be danger
it is danger
it MUST be danger
anxiety comes over me
and there is
this feeling
hunger.
my stomach.
or is it the bladder?
panic
danger
hunger
full bladder
MELTDOWN
bark!
bark!
BARK!!!
BARKBARKBARK!!!
whatthehellareyouwaitingfor?!!!!
areyougonnaletmeoutorwhat?!!!!
what part of B.A.R.K. do you not understand?!!!!!!!
doyouwantmetopeeallovermyself??!!
barkbarkbarkbarkba...
What an amazing literary work. I love the picture of him in his "office".
Hmm, I think Digby has a future in the field of literature! Maybe you could get him a nice professorship somewhere teaching his dog poetics, and you and Lincoln can live off him for awhile...