Acceptance/Adoption*** (another revision & new title) Options

[Eisa]

Acceptance

Imprisoned, Maggie waits.
At five, she is too old to race
and innocent of her impending
death sentence.

The pack surrounds us, noses
poking unmentionable places,
They separate her, containing
the rest behind a gate, scratched
through frustration.

Tiny scars, from food fights,
freckle her face,
tattoos hide inside ears.
Lying overlong on stone floors
has worn bald patches
on muscle-bound flanks.

Yet her eyes are striking,
large and expressive, outlined in black
reminiscent of Egyptian kohl,

She stands proud, like a painting*
in Pharaoh's temple, deep chest
and long legged elegance capable
of high speed in three strides.

Muzzled she walks close
without tugging, then lingers
beside me while I stroke;
I sense acceptance.

Would you like to give her life?



*drawing changed to painting
------------------------------------------------
Adoption

The pack surges to surround us,
noses poking unmentionable places,
They separate her, containing
the rest behind a chewed gate

Tiny scars, from food fights,
freckle her face,
tattoos hide inside ears,
like Auschwitz identification.
Lying overlong on stone floors
has worn bald patches
on muscle-bound flanks.

But her eyes are striking, large
and expressive, outlined in black
reminiscent of Egyptian kohl,

Would you like to walk her?

Muzzled, she walks close,
without tugging. Back
with the pack, she lingers
beside me, while I stroke.

At five years, she was rescued
from a death sentence.
Too old to race now, Maggie
- ex-racing greyhound.


-----------------------------------
Adoption (tweaked)

The pack surges to surround us,
noses poking unmentionable places,
They separate her, containing
the rest behind a gnawed gate,

Tiny scars, from food fights,
freckle her face,
tattoos hide inside ears,
like Auschwitz identification.
Lying overlong on stone floors
has worn hair to bald patches
on muscle-bound flanks.

But her eyes are striking, large
and expressive, outlined in black
reminiscent of Egyptian kohl.

Would you like to walk her?

Muzzled, she walks close,
without lead-tugging. Back
with the pack, she lingers
beside me, while I stroke.

Was she ever overfed,
to make winning arduous,
or potions slipped in to help her excel?
How many companion' demise
had she witnessed?

She has been rescued from her own
death sentence. Too old to race now
at five. I didn't ponder for long -
I will adopt Maggie -
retired greyhound.


Adoption (original)

The pack surges to surround us,
noses poking unmentionable places,
They separate her from the rest
containing them behind a gnawed gate.

Tiny scars, from food fights,
freckle her face,
tattoos hide inside ears,
like Auschwitz identification.
Lying overlong on stone floors
has worn hair to bald patches
on muscular flanks.

Her eyes are strikingly expressive
large and outlined in black,
reminiscent of Cleopatra's kohl.

Would you like to walk her?

Muzzled, she walks close,
without lead-tugging. Back
with the pack, she lingers
beside me, while I stroke.

Questions crowd my thoughts:
Had her chases been fruitful? Was she ever
overfed, to make winning arduous,
or potions slipped in to help her excel?
Had she witnessed many companions' demise?

She has been rescued from her own
death sentence. Too old to race now
at five. I don't ponder for long -
I will adopt Maggie, retired greyhound.

[greenwich]

Beautiful, a poets hand in encapsulating affinity and need

[Psyche]

Hi Eira,
I've been waiting for this one! So glad you've posted it. The greyhounds' situation is terribly sad. The owners are just interested in how much money they make...when they stop winning races, they kill them or send them to over-crowded shelters. The same happens to many race-horses. I don't think I have much to nit, but I feel like crying when I read your poem.
I'm sure Maggie has become a wonderful addition to your family. Adoption is always the best choice. They seem show their gratitude more than purchased pets.

Adoption

The pack surges to surround us,
noses poking unmentionable places, <<<<< so true! LOL.
They separate her from the rest<<<<<comma?
containing them behind a gnawed gate.<<<<<poor things, I'd want to adopt them all.

Tiny scars, from food fights,
freckle her face,
tattoos hide inside ears,
like Auschwitz identification.
Lying overlong on stone floors
has worn hair to bald patches
on muscular flanks.

The above stanza is sickening, but it has to be said. Haven't they invented some sort of soft floor for these shelters? Do they get any heating in winter?

Her eyes are strikingly expressive
large and outlined in black,
reminiscent of Cleopatra's kohl.<<<<<good one!

Would you like to walk her?

Muzzled, she walks close,
without lead-tugging. Back
with the pack, she lingers
beside me, while I stroke.

I wouldn't be able to resist her!

Questions crowd my thoughts:
Had her chases been fruitful? Was she ever
overfed, to make winning arduous,
or potions slipped in to help her excel?
Had she witnessed many companions' demise?

I'm sure doping is used. And there are also 'fixed' races. Same as in many sports.

She has been rescued from her own
death sentence. Too old to race now <<<<<<comma?
at five. I don't ponder for long -
I will adopt Maggie, retired greyhound.

Done! You did it! The first week was complicated, but now she's 'family'.
I notice you've used future tense at the end. That means more poems about Maggie will be penned and shared with us. I feel so emotional.
Best of luck,
Syl

[Eisa]

Beautiful, a poets hand in encapsulating affinity and need

Thanks Antony

Eira

[Eisa]

Hi Eira,
I've been waiting for this one! So glad you've posted it. The greyhounds' situation is terribly sad. The owners are just interested in how much money they make...when they stop winning races, they kill them or send them to over-crowded shelters. The same happens to many race-horses. I don't think I have much to nit, but I feel like crying when I read your poem.
I'm sure Maggie has become a wonderful addition to your family. Adoption is always the best choice. They seem show their gratitude more than purchased pets.

Yes, Syl, here it is at last! It's taken a while as I've had to cut back my original. The greyhound situation is far worse than I ever imagined wth thousands being killed every year - in fact far more are killed than are rescued.

Adoption

The pack surges to surround us,
noses poking unmentionable places, <<<<< so true! LOL.
They separate her from the rest<<<<<comma?
containing them behind a gnawed gate.<<<<<poor things, I'd want to adopt them all.

The rest of the pack were already adopted by the fosterers, but f they weren't it would have been difficult to just bring one home!

Tiny scars, from food fights,
freckle her face,
tattoos hide inside ears,
like Auschwitz identification.
Lying overlong on stone floors
has worn hair to bald patches
on muscular flanks.

The above stanza is sickening, but it has to be said. Haven't they invented some sort of soft floor for these shelters? Do they get any heating in winter?

Greyhound have very thin skin/fat which is why they should wear a coat in cold weather. Many spend anything up to 23 hours caged on stone floors. They are starved for 24 hours before a race. I could go on!

Her eyes are strikingly expressive
large and outlined in black,
reminiscent of Cleopatra's kohl.<<<<<good one!

Would you like to walk her?

Muzzled, she walks close,
without lead-tugging. Back
with the pack, she lingers
beside me, while I stroke.

I wouldn't be able to resist her!

Questions crowd my thoughts:
Had her chases been fruitful? Was she ever
overfed, to make winning arduous,
or potions slipped in to help her excel?
Had she witnessed many companions' demise?

I'm sure doping is used. And there are also 'fixed' races. Same as in many sports.

True!

She has been rescued from her own
death sentence. Too old to race now <<<<<<comma?
at five. I don't ponder for long -
I will adopt Maggie, retired greyhound.

Done! You did it! The first week was complicated, but now she's 'family'.
I notice you've used future tense at the end. That means more poems about Maggie will be penned and shared with us. I feel so emotional.
Best of luck,
Syl

I'm sure I shall write more, Syl (when my muse comes)

Eira

[Psyche]

Back again, Eira.
It was nice to know that the dogs behind the gnawed gate already have foster homes.

Thousands killed?! Unbelievably horrid.

A law should be approved whereby people who're cruel to animals should be jailed, same as people.
I've heard of some cases where judges did jail the owners, but there isn't a law.

In Argentina we're trying to get that law through congress, hope they vote on it soon and in the right way.

Also, kennels and shelters should be regulated. Oblige them to keep their animals well-fed and warm, with space to run around in.

What a subject to talk about! You've learned a lot since you adopted Maggie, maybe you'll join some group that defends animal's rights.

Hugs, Syl

[Eisa]

Hi Syl,

I've tweaked some parts of this for conciseness.

Until I adopted Maggie I had no idea of the awful things that happened to greyhounds. They breed too many, so puppies are also killed if not enough rescues are found. Now Ireland are sending greyhound to China where there are no welfare regulations and most end up being cruelly killed or used for food. Too awful!

Eira

[Psyche]

Yes, the greyhound's situation is unbelievably cruel. In Argentina there are laws against racing and fighting dogs, but some people take no notice. A lot of money is behind it all.

Your poem seems to be perfect now. Love it.

the rest behind a gnawed gate,

You need a full-stop after gate.

And lower down I think there's an 's' missing after 'companion' demise

No more nits from me! Looking forward to Maggie's present life. So different!

Syl

[Eisa]

Another revision!

Eira

[Psyche]

Hi Eira,
I really like your revision. I think it's perfect now. No nits.

Just wondering about "a drawing" in the Pharoah's temple. It seems to me that it should be a painting or carving, something like that. I'll try to come up with a term for that art. Maybe it's just me.

Love the way you've worked this one! Congrats!

Syl

[RC James]

Eira - I really like the sensitivity and compassion here. I thought you were talking about a human in the first part of this. Very compelling read. R

[Eisa]

Hi Eira,
I really like your revision. I think it's perfect now. No nits.

Just wondering about "a drawing" in the Pharoah's temple. It seems to me that it should be a painting or carving, something like that. I'll try to come up with a term for that art. Maybe it's just me.

Love the way you've worked this one! Congrats!

Syl

Hi Syl

I'm back! with my new laptop.

I agree about the drawing as I'm sure it should be 'painting' - I'll change that now.

Great to be back!
Eira

[Eisa]

Eira - I really like the sensitivity and compassion here. I thought you were talking about a human in the first part of this. Very compelling read. R

Thank you Richard!

I'm sorry to be late answering, but I've been struggling with computer problems (3 people sharing one computer)

It's good to hear from you.

Eira