Dog Songs: Poems Paperback – September 29, 2015

Mary Oliver's DOG SONGS is a pure delight to read, particularly if you have had the good fortune to share your life with a dog or two - or perhaps even several, over a lifetime. Oliver has obviously done so, and she immortalizes a few of her favorites here: Percy, Ricky, Benjamin, Luke, and Bear. Her 'conversations' with Ricky, in pieces like "The Wicked Smile" and "You Never Know Where a Conversation Is Going to Go" made me smile. And "Every Dog's Story," about doggy nightmares and finding "a safe place," rings true and familiar. Just yesterday afternoon our little Emmy ran for her own "safe" place - a soft-sided 'cat cube' under a chair in the darkest corner of the guest room - when a frighteningly loud thunder and hail storm passed through.The Benjamin poems were especially affecting, both because of that dog's mysterious fears (brooms, kindling) from an unknown previous life, and also because of John Burgoyne's marvelous pen-and-ink drawings of that Beagle-like face and form. A dog who looked so much like my Daisy (1997-2011). And for anyone who has lost a loved dog, "Her Grave", "Percy (2002-2009)", and "The First Time Percy Came Back" will surely choke you up.The two short essays here, "Ropes" (about a time when dogs "roamed freely") and "Dog Talk" (an elegy to Ben and Bear and their wolf-like origins and instincts) are also especially effective, especially if you can remember those days when dogs were free to come and go about town. I was reminded of Willie Morris's lovely little memoir, MY DOG SKIP.I've wanted to read DOG SONGS ever since it first came out. Now I have. It's a little book; you can read it in about a half hour. But it will be one of those books I'll come back to many times, I'm pretty sure. I see now why it was a national bestseller. Its subject, its charm, its deceptive simplicity. Loved it!- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER

Read one savor it. Read another. Smile. Touching. Sweet. Profound as well.

Bought several for hard to gift dog owners. Very sweet and uplifting, light.

These poems are a reminder that we are, despite our technology, still a part of the natural world and dogs are our intermediaries.

This is a truly beautiful book for all dog lovers.........the poems will make you smile, make you cryand then make you laugh......A wonderful gift to give to family and friends who have dogs - orto keep for your own enjoyment.

I love this book! I've bought several for friends.

This lovely book of poems about dogs only takes a few short minutes to read. As long as it took me to drink a cup of coffee and eat a bagel smeared with cream cheese. But in that short time, I met, fell in love with, laughed at, and mourned so many special characters. Mary Oliver's poetry and prose evokes memories of so many lost furry friends from my own life...so I cried almost all the way through it. Not just tears of sadness, but also tears of joy for reminding me of the qualities of the love, joy, exuberance, happiness, innocence, trust and wisdom that dogs, cats, any animal companion, so willingly and generously offers to share with their obviously inept human sidekicks. I love this book! If you're a pet owner, a pet lover, or just love animals period, this book will touch your heart, and won't let go.

I picked this book up and could not put it down. Such sweet stories about dogs and every good feeling they teach us to feel. Their silly to serious moods are captured in each of Oliver’s stories reminding us just how good dogs are at owning our hearts.All of our dogs are and have been rescues just like Mary’s Ben and Sammy. Her tribute to them and all of her dogs are special, relatable and lovely.This is a great book to pick up anytime — even reading just one or two stories will enhance your mood. Your heart will thank you.