Call number
811 OLI
Collection
Publication
Penguin Books (2015), Edition: Reissue, 144 pages
Description
"Beloved by her readers, special to the poet's own heart, Mary Oliver's dog poems offer a special window into her world. Dog Songs collects some of the most cherished poems together with new works, offering a portrait of Oliver's relationship to the companions that have accompanied her daily walks, warmed her home, and inspired her work. To be illustrated with images of the dogs themselves, the subjects will come to colorful life here. These are poems of love and laughter, heartbreak and grief. In these pages we visit with old friends, including Oliver's well-loved Percy, and meet still others. Throughout, the many dogs of Oliver's life emerge as fellow travelers, but also as guides, spirits capable of opening our eyes to the lessons of the moment and the joys of nature and connection. Dog Songs is a testament to the power and depth of the human-animal exchange, from an observer of extraordinary vision"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member PoetVictoria
This is a beautiful book that drew me to more loving exchanges with my dog. We both liked that!
LibraryThing member PamZaragoza
“For there was nothing sweeter than his peace
when at rest.
For there was nothing brisker than his life when
in motion.
For when i went away he would watch for me at
the window.
for he loved me.
For he suffered before i found him, and never
forgot it.”
"Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is
when at rest.
For there was nothing brisker than his life when
in motion.
For when i went away he would watch for me at
the window.
for he loved me.
For he suffered before i found him, and never
forgot it.”
"Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is
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increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?" Show Less
LibraryThing member EEDevore
The drawings that accompany these poems are gorgeous. Many of the poems are touching and capture the love between humans and dogs and the complexity of those relationships; however, several of the poems also seem to lack the universal quality that poetry needs. Several times, I found myself
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thinking, "Well, Oliver really likes her dogs, but why am I supposed to care about this?" Overall, I've enjoyed the poems, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite collection ever. Show Less
LibraryThing member annbury
This is a charming, and moving, book of poems about dogs that most dog owners will thoroughly enjoy. Indeed, this would make a welcome Christmas present for dog owners (or even just lovers of dogs) on your list. She captures the absolute love that dogs bestow on us, and the tragedy of their short
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lifespans. One point to note for urban dog owners: she does NOT have a good opinion of dogs on leashes, or the people who put them there. As an urban dog owner, this stung me a bit. The poems are accurate and moving enough so that I liked the book anyway, but there it was. Show Less
LibraryThing member Yestergirl
Dog Stories by Mary Oliver is about sloppy kisses, belly rubs, our furry companions insistence that you play because, what else would you rather be doing? Dog Stories is a collection of poems celebrating our love of dogs and the love we, in return, receive. They are simple poems, yet poignant, that
"Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?"… Mary Oliver from Dog Stories
Mary Oliver, dog lover & poet, writes about the dogs that have come into and left her life, but they are universal in their sentiments. The happy moments, the sad moments of a dog passing, the exuberance, the wonderment of the world, a near perfect world when shared with a dog and when we experience their unconditional love. These are dog stories, but Mary Oliver's poems go beyond just our relationships with our dogs, the poems also seem to speak to our relationship with nature, and how we as humans can be touched and made to appreciate the nature that surrounds us.
I enjoy poetry, but I don't read a lot of poetry books. I thought I would change all that this year. As a dog lover I was motivated to open the pages of Dog Stories, and enjoyed what I found between the pages. Though Mary was speaking of her dogs, it brought back fond memories of time spent with my fur baby BJ, especially her poem entitled The Sweetness of Dogs, about sitting out in the moonlight…
thinking how grateful I am for the moon's
perfect beauty and also, oh! how rich
it is to love the world. Percy, meanwhile,
leans against me and gazes up into
my face. As though I were just as wonderful
as the perfect moon.
…excerpt from The Sweetness of Dogs
A slim volume, with over 35 poems and an essay, should be savored and enjoyed. If you share a life with a dog, or have shared, it's a perfect volume to crack the spine every once in a while to remember or remind what life with a dog can be.
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reflect upon what all of us lucky enough to share or have shared a life with a furry companion experience..."Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?"… Mary Oliver from Dog Stories
Mary Oliver, dog lover & poet, writes about the dogs that have come into and left her life, but they are universal in their sentiments. The happy moments, the sad moments of a dog passing, the exuberance, the wonderment of the world, a near perfect world when shared with a dog and when we experience their unconditional love. These are dog stories, but Mary Oliver's poems go beyond just our relationships with our dogs, the poems also seem to speak to our relationship with nature, and how we as humans can be touched and made to appreciate the nature that surrounds us.
I enjoy poetry, but I don't read a lot of poetry books. I thought I would change all that this year. As a dog lover I was motivated to open the pages of Dog Stories, and enjoyed what I found between the pages. Though Mary was speaking of her dogs, it brought back fond memories of time spent with my fur baby BJ, especially her poem entitled The Sweetness of Dogs, about sitting out in the moonlight…
thinking how grateful I am for the moon's
perfect beauty and also, oh! how rich
it is to love the world. Percy, meanwhile,
leans against me and gazes up into
my face. As though I were just as wonderful
as the perfect moon.
…excerpt from The Sweetness of Dogs
A slim volume, with over 35 poems and an essay, should be savored and enjoyed. If you share a life with a dog, or have shared, it's a perfect volume to crack the spine every once in a while to remember or remind what life with a dog can be.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SarahWagner503
Lovely poems that will make you wish to see the world through Oliver's eyes... or your dog's.
LibraryThing member khiemstra631
Delightful little book of dog poems and stories. Dog lovers will thoroughly enjoy this collection by well-known poet Mary Oliver. The illustrations add to the joy of the book. Even some cat lovers might also appreciate it!
LibraryThing member poetreegirl
Any dog lover will find poems in this collection that resonate with the joys and humor that dogs add to our lives. This is Mary Oliver at her finest.
LibraryThing member joeydag
lovely short works which can be consumed quickly(as I did) or digested slowly (which I would have loved to do) - a love song to her many four footed friends.
"You may not agree, you may not care, but
if you are holding this book, you should know
of all the sights I love in this world—
and there are
the list is this one: dogs without leashes."
"You may not agree, you may not care, but
if you are holding this book, you should know
of all the sights I love in this world—
and there are
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plenty—very near the top ofthe list is this one: dogs without leashes."
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LibraryThing member SaschaD
Is anyone ever quite done with a book of Mary Oliver's poetry? This one is especially poignant with her contemplation and observations of the dogs who have been part of her world. As always, so much rings true that I found myself tearing up, remembering the souls who had been part of my life just a
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short while ago, and who, admittedly, are still a part of it even though they don't continue on this path with me. Show Less
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Can't say I loved this one. Poems didn't strike a chord. Pen and ink drawings were really good.
LibraryThing member streamsong
I have enjoyed Mary Oliver's poetry, especially those based in nature, for several years now.
With this book, I found she has the same deft appreciation for dogs.
Her dogs speak but are not anthropomorphized, and she captures them well: silly, loyal, loving and the heartbreak of saying
Quick, fun read when you need a bit of dogginess.
Here's an excerpt from "Show Time"
And here come the dogs. Brushed, trimmed,
polished.
"What on earth have they done to them!"
said Ricky. "They're half shaved. And
wearing pillows on their heads. And
where are their tails?"
It's the rules, I said.
"And look at those women trying to run.
They sure don't look like you."
Thank you, I said.
"I'm getting a headache looking at this.
I have to bark!" And he began.
It does no good to bark at the television,
I said. I've tried it too. So he stopped.”
With this book, I found she has the same deft appreciation for dogs.
Her dogs speak but are not anthropomorphized, and she captures them well: silly, loyal, loving and the heartbreak of saying
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goodbye.Quick, fun read when you need a bit of dogginess.
Here's an excerpt from "Show Time"
And here come the dogs. Brushed, trimmed,
polished.
"What on earth have they done to them!"
said Ricky. "They're half shaved. And
wearing pillows on their heads. And
where are their tails?"
It's the rules, I said.
"And look at those women trying to run.
They sure don't look like you."
Thank you, I said.
"I'm getting a headache looking at this.
I have to bark!" And he began.
It does no good to bark at the television,
I said. I've tried it too. So he stopped.”
Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
Lots of dog love, elegantly expressed. You will find your dearly remembered and much loved dogs here, indomitable hounds, bounding big ones, coy small ones. Those whose essence it is to look to us and, somehow, love us and accept our love.
LibraryThing member m.belljackson
Perfect book of poems for us and the dogs we keep wishing back...
Curly, Michael, Jibber-Rimba, Brandy, Belkar, Duke,
Khayman and Little Elise, Chee...
Memories abound! And, we love the evocative drawings.
Just could have done without the dying mice.
Curly, Michael, Jibber-Rimba, Brandy, Belkar, Duke,
Khayman and Little Elise, Chee...
Memories abound! And, we love the evocative drawings.
Just could have done without the dying mice.
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Mary Oliver's Dog Songs will touch the hearts of all dog lovers. The poems celebrate the bonds we share with our canine companions. Some bring smiles, while others bring tears. Since the average dog's life span is much shorter than the average human's, Oliver has outlived quite a few of her
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treasured pets. Several of them are memorialized in this collection. This book would be a welcome gift for any poetry-loving dog owner. Show Less
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
She loves dogs, individually and collectively. Lovely homage to our dear doggie friends!
LibraryThing member foggidawn
It seemed as if my dog
was reading along with me
perched behind me on the couch
her head heavy on my shoulder.
"Why are you crying?"
she would ask me.
"Why are you laughing?"
Because, I would say,
This poet understands dogs.
This poet understands words.
This poet understands love.
was reading along with me
perched behind me on the couch
her head heavy on my shoulder.
"Why are you crying?"
she would ask me.
"Why are you laughing?"
Because, I would say,
This poet understands dogs.
This poet understands words.
This poet understands love.
LibraryThing member billsearth
What nice poems.
These poems bring out the god qualities of friendship, but in dogs.
Loyalty, trust, kindness, all in an owner-dog relationship.
These poems bring out the god qualities of friendship, but in dogs.
Loyalty, trust, kindness, all in an owner-dog relationship.
LibraryThing member CarrieWuj
Love Mary Oliver's poetry -- and this volume did not disappoint, especially now that I am in the dog owning segment of the population. Most poems were stricly personal, though, about dogs she has owned. So not as interesting, since mine is cuter.
LibraryThing member AR_bookbird
I love this book and all of her poetry! If you are a fan of dogs or have a special dog this is for you!
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Our pups make up every day sweeter. Mary Oliver has a unique gift and she captures the simplicity and the beauty of that fact. She captures their unconditional love, playfulness, incredible sense of smell, and simplistic devotion to joy. My 12-year-old dog Ollie is such an important part of our
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family and I thought of him frequently while reading this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member steve02476
Nice poems, not sure what I can say. I’m sure a lot more care was put into writing them than I put into reading them. I like dogs, I don’t love them the way she does. But it was nice to witness her love for her dogs, and how closely she watched them and thought about them.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Dog Songs by Mary Oliver is a unique volume of poems in that each one is about a dog, both as in dogs that have enriched her life as well as in general terms. This is a celebration of the special bond that humans and dogs have forged over generations. These are poems of love, laughter, heartbreak
The author, writing effortlessly, connects the reader to their inner feelings and brings back memories through her vision. It is obvious that she knows dogs and her words paint vivid pictures:
Be prepared. A dog is
adorable and noble.
A dog is a true and
loving friend. A dog
is also a hedonist.
I highly recommend Dog Songs to all dog lovers. These charming poems are a homage to our gentle, loving and, at times, funny companions in life. The accompanying line sketches by John Burgoyne enhance this slim volume and are a joy to examine.
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and grief. As I read through the book my eyes both twinkled and teared.The author, writing effortlessly, connects the reader to their inner feelings and brings back memories through her vision. It is obvious that she knows dogs and her words paint vivid pictures:
Be prepared. A dog is
adorable and noble.
A dog is a true and
loving friend. A dog
is also a hedonist.
I highly recommend Dog Songs to all dog lovers. These charming poems are a homage to our gentle, loving and, at times, funny companions in life. The accompanying line sketches by John Burgoyne enhance this slim volume and are a joy to examine.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bakersfieldbarbara
A small book, a little over a hundred pages, but one full of poems and one essay about dogs. Having received many awards for her poetry, DOG SONGS is about Mary Oliver's beloved dogs, and it is evident that she has a special fondness for these wonderful animals. Being a dog lover, I found the poems
Want to celebrate your dog, or that of a friend? I highly recommend this book to anyone with a human-animal connection that can't be broken other than in death.
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to capture the feelings that our animals bring out in us, as they travel through life , giving only unconditional love. Cuddling, watching us, kissing us, and following us with their eyes, all of it is found in these heart-warming poems. Want to celebrate your dog, or that of a friend? I highly recommend this book to anyone with a human-animal connection that can't be broken other than in death.
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LibraryThing member Treebeard_404
Read 'em and weep. (And rejoice, too.)
Pages
144
ISBN
0143125834 / 9780143125839