Writing

Lone Dog

I’m a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog and lone,

I’m a rough dog, a tough dog, hunting on my own!

I’m a bad dog, a mad dog, teasing silly sheep;

I love to sit and bay the moon and keep fat souls from sleep.

I’ll never be a lap dog, licking dirty feet,

A sleek dog, a meek dog, cringing for my meat.

Not for me the fireside, the well-filled plate,

But shut door and sharp stone and cuff and kick and hate.

Not for me the other dogs, running by my side,

Some have run a short while, but none of them would bide

O mine is still the lone trail, the hard trail, the best,

Wide wind and wild stars and hunger of the quest.

By Irene McLeod

1. Use your dictionary to find the meanings of the following words:

a) keen

b) cuff

c) bide

d) lone

e) quest

2. Using your own words describe the personality of the dog in this poem

3. What is the dog’s opinion of people in general?

4. What is the dog’s opinion of other dogs? Write down the words that make you think this and say why.

5. Can recite (do you know the meaning of this word?) this poem in the most vivid way. Practise reciting.

6. Imagine that you are another animal, for example, a stray cat, or a horse, or a snake. Write down a list of words that describe you.

7. Now write either a poem or a few paragraphs to describe your appearance and behaviour.

8. Illustrate your work with pictures of yourself as you are described in your poem or paragraph.