The poem is written in clear, informal language. This allows readers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the content. ‘Walking the Dog’ explores the relationship between owner and pet, breaking down barriers that suggest one is truly in charge of the other.
Summary
‘Walking the Dog’ by Howard Nemerov contains a description of the poet walking his dog and the commonalities they share.
The poem starts with the speaker talking about how he and his dog inhabit separate universes. The only thing they can communicate through is love. The dog sees and smells things his owner never will. As the poem progresses, Nemerov uses an amusing image of the two as poop connoisseurs, having seen every type of animal droppings in existence as they walk and sniff their way through the streets. The poem ends with the speaker announcing that he wrote this poem after returning home to prove he’s in charge.
You can read the full poem here.
Detailed Analysis
Stanza One
Two universes mosey down the street
(…)
Almost entirely hidden from my sight.
In the first stanza of this poem, the speaker begins by describing how different he is from his dog. They each inhabit different universes. But, they are walking down the street together. The poet uses light-hearted language, like “mosey,” to suggest there is meaning in their movements. It also allows the reader to more easily imagine the scene.
The two are “Connected by love and a leash and nothing else.” The two share very little besides their love for one another. But that’s what makes their relationship unique.
The two enjoy different things while they walk, including sights and smells. The speaker mentions how his dog can smell things he’ll never know, and that is hidden from his view.
Stanza Two
We stand while he’s enraptured by a bush
(…)
Contented not to think each other’s thoughts.
The following lines describe the speaker urging his dog along after he spends too much time “enraptured by a bush.” They have to maintain a balanced relationship: one side tugging and one side dragging.
Stanza Three
What else we have in common’s what he taught,
(…)
We move along the street inspecting shit.
The speaker also notes that there is something else in common— “Our interest in shit.” The dog and his owner know “it’s every state.” This suggests that the speaker’s dog spends a great deal of time seeking out and smelling other animals’ droppings. The lines of this stanza use impressive examples of imagery, seen through the poet’s ability to describe clearly various types of poop.
Stanza Four
His sense of it is keener far than mine,
(…)
And just to show who’s master I write the poem.
In the final stanza, the speaker says that the dog’s senses are “keener far than mine” and that he has to find the exact right spot to “squat” and go to the bathroom. Despite the seemingly undignified nature of this act, the two walk home with “dignity.”
The final line ends the poem on a humorous note. The speaker says that he writes this poem “just to show who’s master.” He has these abilities the dog doesn’t, and he turns to them in an effort to remind himself and others that his pet doesn’t control him. This is, of course, an exaggeration meant to emphasize the interesting relationship between owner and pet.
Structure and Form
‘Walking the Dog’ by Howard Nemerov is a four-stanza poem that is divided into sets of six lines, known as sestets. This poem is written in free verse. This means that the lines do not follow a specific rhyme scheme or metrical pattern.
Literary Devices
Throughout this poem, the poet makes use of several literary devices. These include but are not limited to:
- Imagery: can be seen in the poet’s use of simple, yet effective, language. For example, “I look at lamplight through the leaves / While he mooches along with tail up and snout down.”
- Alliteration: occurs when the poet repeats the same consonant sound at the beginning of multiple words. For example, “love” and “leash” in line two of the first stanza.
- Enjambment: can be seen when the poet cuts off a line before its natural stopping point. For example, the transition between lines one and two of the second stanza.
FAQs
The central theme in this poem is companionship. The speaker describes the relationship he has with his dog and how, despite not speaking the same language, they share so much love.
The tone is one of contentment and acceptance. The speaker clearly loves his pet and is happy for their relationship (which he lays out in the lines of this poem) to remain the same.
Nemerov wrote this poem in order to share his experiences with his dog. These are moments that many readers are going to be familiar with.
Similar Poetry
Readers who enjoyed this piece should also consider reading some other Howard Nemerov poems. For example:
- ‘Because You Asked about the Line Between Prose and Poetry’ – a beautiful poem that uses birds and in climate to describe the difference between prose and poetry.
Other related poems include:
- ‘Dog’ by Lawrence Ferlinghetti – alludes to a larger investigation into the meaning of life and the existence or nonexistence of truth through the image of a dog.
- ‘Epitaph to a Dog’ by Lord Byron – as written in 1808 after his dog Boatswain had died of rabies. Byron’s love for the dog is well documented and demonstrated by the size of his tomb at Newstead Abbey.
