I am searching for a poem from the late 70's or early 80's.?

Question

It is a modern prose poem with a theme that compares (in it's way) to the one expressed in Tennyson's Ulysses. However, it compares/contrasts the sedate & satisfied life of dogs with the active adventurous life of cats. I remember it from a poetry text in college (hot pink big thick book). Any 80's poetry scholars out there want to take a crack at this? P.S. I identified with the cat although I was a business major--accounts for my ineptitude in finding this.

Answer 1

Maria, even though I looked and searched for your poem, I did not find.

I'm sending you one that I love:

MY OL' FRIEND

I think I'll go inside now.

Would you like to come?

The winter's sun is setting low.

Inside I'm brewing tea,

Would you care for some?

We will stoke the fire and press our flesh

Against the flames' warm glow.

There's no reason our talk should end,

We'll ignore the season's early dusk

For inside there is plenty left to do

Before our beds do beckon us.

Now at this moment, memories call

With all their factors here.

The weary way we favor our

Muscled limbs from head to toe

Gives pause to long past deeds undone

And those we cherish most.

Remember when with youthful step

The rabbit could not us out run?

We hunted him in spring's fresh breeze

Through summer's endless heat, then

We watched the birds in futile flight

Avoiding winter's certain approach

Heading for the southern light.

Well now, old friend,

We hug before the fire.

In the flames we see ourselves

The way we used to be.

Don't take me wrong,

I love you still.

I most certainly always will.

You've been my best friend

Through all these years,

No need for it to end.

l**k me now, my old dog,

The way you always do

When we celebrate good news

With joyful celebration,

Shaking all over with reckless abandon.

Ahhh, enough of this, but it's been fun.

It's time for your evening bowl.

You must be hungry by now,

We will eat our meal

And rest our traveled bones

And shun the evening's void

To rise tomorrow morn

The way we always have

With truthful hearts and renewed strength

That life is good to friends.

-- Submitted by E.E.Biller from New Castle, PA

It's lovely, right?