Seeing Things

At twilight, we walk the three dogs in the park;

our bulldog pees on the oak trees we pass, marks

the same reeking trash can on the way back home.

 

The miniature schnauzers would rather roam

chase the fat gray squirrels and fast-food wrappers.

To the cat in the window, nothing matters.

 

The Smithsonian says man domesticated

dogs twenty to forty thousand years ago.

They originated from an extinct wolf.

 

I don't see the resemblance. We've debated

creationism and evolution. No one knows

so we pluck thick books from experts off the shelf

 

fight over god, whether it's science or art.

To the girl in the park, the dog is pretty

to the boy the dog's cool. None of us are smart

 

enough to know the thing's complete biology

or what makes music or a poem pretty.

We engineer ingenious things most don't see

 

and even when we're dead, others just repeat

what others say. And, the cat in the window

just wants to know why its two bowls are empty.

 

Nothing much matters that's not in the window.

 

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Love this and the writing reminds me of L.F.---
the humor enhances the idea that we never know as much as we think we know...and what we do know, we overthink until it doesn't matter anymore.
Life is just life...humans, animals just react to whatever is their nature.
j.

[Zeb Smith]

Thank you, j. You read it well. And, even the mention of L.F. in a review is a compliment.

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Zeb,

Zebulon?

I found this piece of your heart and mind, set to pen of page, to be a most contemplative, and realistically thought provoking, philosophical poem that is splendidly, truthfully, and excellently written ...

Marvin Thomas Cox Flynn de Graham

[Casey Truax]

The structure and rhyme scheme are very interesting. It seems that we are much like dogs and cats and spend most of our time focused on the most immediate concerns while the deeper history of things is too remote and obscure to give meaning.

[Robert Haigh]

An inspiring and thought-provoking poem! Both funny and profound! I like it!

[Zeb Smith]

Thank you, Robert. I look forward to visiting your page soon. I appreciate your time and kind words.

[Gee]

I'm with the cat, most REALLY matters to much and then we age and die.
Like your style Zeb, enjoyed the read.

[Zeb Smith]

Thank you, Gee. Cats are much smarter than most know. I appreciate your time and kind review.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Truly a fine piece of writing. I have read that a poem is a walk; if so, then that is precisely what you have done and invited the reader to peer over your shoulder on the way.

Winston

[Zeb Smith]

Thank you very much, Winston. I appreciate your visit and kind review.