I Don't Understand Said the Dog to the Cat

[A. M. Moon]

I don’t understand said the Dog to the Cat
A dutiful pet with his owner complies--
Whatever it takes—even fetching a stick!
Your languid indifference and all it implies
--Refusing to carry out one little trick--
I don’t understand what is making you tick.

I don’t understand said the Cat to the Dog
Your absence of pride will be your undoing
Your toadying fawning behavior debasing
All dogs in general, and then there’s the chewing,
The barking, the slobber, the foolish stick-chasing
Your natural urges so garden-defacing.

I don’t understand said the Bird to the Snake
You slide on your belly, and yet you assert
It’s the best kind of life, hidden from view,
As for the weather, when cold, you’re inert,
Dark little tunnels you like to slip through
I don’t understand why you’d ever want to.

I don’t understand said the Snake to the Bird
You’re flying around up high in the air
And flocking with others all over the place
Exposing yourself to everyone's glare
As though you’re involved in some kind of race
I‘m glad I’m not you; I’d feel out of place.

I don’t understand said the Mole to the Frog
You like the fresh air and green dappled ponds
If I had to live so, I’d be quite neurotic
For me peace of mind and joy corresponds
With life underground-- nothing aquatic!
Switching with you, I’d find it traumatic.

I don’t understand said the Frog to the Mole
How can you miss all the fresh morning dew?
How can you live there –deep in the dirt?
Maybe in winter, but summertime too?
The virtues of soil you may well assert,
But I don’t believe you, I’ll never convert!

The Dog and the Cat and the Bird and the Snake
The Mole and the Frog-- they cannot relate
Or comprehend fully the views of the rest
The key is to recognize each one is blessed.

[sparklingstars]

This is an absolutely wonderful poem, Sandy

[A. M. Moon]

Thank you sparklingstars.

[starkraven]

A.M. Moon,
Congratulations on a terrifically well-crafted and clever poem! Kudos!

[luna5000]

Much enjoyed!

[A. M. Moon]

Thank you Starkraven and Luna.

[Amybabs]

I love it! It's so creative, and I can totally see this as a children's book. Have you thought about that?

[Bobby Del Boy]

Would love to know what inspired you to write this?

[ThisIsMyUsername]

This could make a great children's book, as stated before. I highly enjoyed it!

[Alex Land]

Very interesting rhyme scheme - A, B, C, B, C, C. How clever of you. And I agree with the children's book idea.

[MelodyNotes]

How did you think of this, do you have kids? Children's book for sure!

[A. M. Moon]

Thanks for the comments! About the idea for a children's book, in fact I have been motivated to write more poems recently with that very idea in mind (collaborating with a poet friend). Actually, we have been thinking of the assembled poems being aimed at 'grown-up children' as much as the younger crowd, and look to T S Eliot and Edward Lear as our muses in this project. I will do the illustrations myself. I guess no one looks for publishers these days (??) (I have no idea) and just does the self-publishing thing. We are looking at CreateSpace for printing. Ours is a a fun project and gives a focus to that niggling creative impulse, no doubt a familiar feeling to everyone on this forum.

[A. M. Moon]

Bobby Del Boy, you asked what inspired me to write this. I had been musing on the misunderstandings that arise from different values and different views of the world, and thought that animal characters could illustrate that theme in a whimsical manner.

[A. M. Moon]

MelodyNotes: no kids, but lots of nieces and nephews!

[debbie_eg]

Simply brilliant! Well done.