Of Dogs And Men And Christmas Traditions Poem by RIC BASTASA

do not ever get me
wrong
i am not a negative
energy

oh, i just remember
Schopenhauer
i do not have to
misspell his name
for i know his work
by heart
Arthur that's it


the dogs tonight
are afraid
all these bombings
and noise in the streets
of firecrackers and
spending explosions

do they not know how
sensitive are those
dog ears?

got a book to read
and i am lost inside it

do not get me wrong
i am not bitter
i am just realistic you
know

you know what real is
i hope you know
how it is to be just
simply
realistic about this
life


no fantasies now
no illusions of stars and moons
plain acceptance

dogs do not understand this
a dog's life is all to shallow
and narrow
and there is fear
that this world is nothing
but just
an ending about an explosion


these dogs hide under my feet
like fleas
and i fully understand now
how is it to be an animal
and stupid and afraid.

oh, this Christmas bursts
and outbursts
the children are running
under the smoke
shrieking

how can ever men understand
the loves and fears of dogs?

it is this day of the absurd
and all justifications end
that way
i cannot understand this
and i am giving up

well, well well, this is
actually the true beginning of wisdom


of dogs and men
of Christmases and
left overs

happy dogs and sad men
women with no cares
children with scars and
self-righteous institutions
and more births for sins
and names for new saints

meanwhile, another explosion
is done
merry merry Christmas everyone

do you know why this dog
is hiding in my room?
it is your firecracker you fool!