Friday, November 13, 2015

Dear Abby - "The Dachshund" by Edward Anthony (a poem)

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a happy week.  Mine has been lovely except for a roof repair.  (I barked my instructions to the roofers.  Momma said she is sure that they appreciated it!)

I wanted to share one of my favorite poems with you this week.  It is called "The Dachshund" by Edward Anthony.   I found it in one of Momma's books here, The Golden Treasury of Poetry (her copy is from 1968).  She said it is a very cute book.  I am certain she is correct about that, but mostly this is what you need to know:  it has a great poem about a dachshund.

Here is the book:



And much more important, here is the poem!   I like that little dachshund illustration!



The Dachshund - by Edward Anthony
 
Because I waddle when I walk,
Should this give rise to silly talk
That I'm ungainly? What's ungainly?
I'm really rather graceful - mainly.
The experts have been known to state
That there's a twinkle in our gait.
One said "They have a clumsy grace,"
Which after all is no disgrace.
My funny features may abound:
Short legs, long body, low-to-ground,
But I'm about the perfect pal
For man or woman, boy or gal.
I'm gentle, very playful, kind,
I housebreak fast 'cause I'm refined,
I'm smart but never sly or foxy -
No, do not underrate the dachsie!

What do you think? Did the poet capture the personality of the dachshund? I like the phrase "a twinkle in our gait." I also like the lines: "... I'm about the perfect pal for man or woman, boy or gal." Yes, that is true.
 
I'd love to hear your thoughts in comments below. And -- I hope you have a great day!
 
Love,
 
Abby xoxoxo
 
 

15 comments:

Mary Huckaby said...

What a very sweet poem! You and momma have very good taste in poetry. I have never known a Dachshund personally, but if you are a good example of what a dachshund should be, then I'm sure I would love them all.

barbarakwrites said...

I must say that I love it when you find such hidden gems to share with us! About the poem...not sure we agree with everything. Our big red standard boys haven't been ones to "waddle". Our Oz is VERY muscular and tends to walk more like an athlete. But we do agree with the potty training. Our boys trained quickly & all have had no issues with trips out, no matter the weather. Sure, grumble they may, but no "accidents" in the house. Now, I must say I personally have never met a dachshund that is not foxy or sly. In fact, that is one thing that we like about them. We like an intelligent pooch to keep us on our toes ;).

Jean B. said...

Thank you so much Abby for sharing
such a wonderful Poem. I think I heard
this a few years back but I had forgotten.
This poem is so true about our doxie family.
This writer sure knows the breed well.

Unknown said...

So cute. I'm sending this to my friend who has a dachshund.

Farrah said...

Aww, that was such a cute poem! <3 Thank you for sharing! My friend has a chiweenie, and this rather accurately portrays part of her personality!

Abby said...


Dear Friends,

Thank you all so much for stopping by!

Cousin Mary - you would love dachshunds!!

Barbara - I agree about waddling. I do not waddle either! Momma says I prance instead.

Love to all!
Abby

The Peculiar Treasure said...

I love dachshunds! A miniature, long-haired dachshund was my first dog as a child and he was such a good boy. I loved him!

Cindy S said...

Cute poem...thanks for sharing :)

Abby said...


Thanks! I appreciate your visits.

Abby

Dave said...

great poem but I had to laugh about the potty training...ours have been so stubborn. They will go outside for an hour to patrol the perimeter, pee, and sniff every inch of the yard.Then they come inside and poop.

Abby said...


Dave,

My momma is laughing and nodding her head. She said I am very good with housetraining, but she thinks it must be the Jack Russell part of my mix. :-) She agrees with you about stubborn (but very lovable!) doxies.

Abby

Anonymous said...

As soon as I saw the book cover, I ran upstairs...and found mine! My father gave it to me as a Christmas gift in 1974 (I wrote that on the inside cover). How great, and as the proud owner of two dachshunds, I was happy to see the poem! Thanks for sharing and bringing back some memories. Sarah

Birdhouse Books said...

Sarah, that is so neat! Love it that you have this book since childhood, and your are a doxie person. I found a copy of the book some time ago (I do not recall if I bought it on eBay or at a local estate sale) and was so delighted to find the dachshund poem included. I am also a longtime doxie person.

Trish

Anonymous said...

II lost my beloved doxie 6 months ago and not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. Although stubborn at times, he was one of my most favorite rescues ever! Such personality, loyalty. Unfortunately, he had an accident a few years ago that left him incontinent, but there was no way that cutie was going anywhere! I did physical therapy via pool exercises that gave him some mobility back in his back legs. What a joy and honor to have such a loyal friend….

Birdhouse Books said...

I am sorry for your loss! It sounds like you gave your sweet doxie a wonderful life. It is so wonderful that he was able to regain some mobility with physical therapy.

Trish