Walking the Dog in Springtime
(after Frank O’Hara’s poem “Having a Coke with You”)
is even more ridiculous than walking home from daycare with a toddler
or scouring the pavement for that one glove, lost in the last week of winter
partly because he has to smell every inch of newly-exposed mud
partly because of my desire to breathe in the rain-washed air, partly because of his desire to breathe in everything
partly because of his enthusiasm for the disgusting remnants the melting snow has revealed on the edge of the sidewalks
partly because I have to pull him away from all the people and dogs that are also out enjoying the sunshine
it is hard to believe when I’m with him that there can be anything as still
as unforgiving as an icy walkway possibly studded with salt
in the warm Ottawa 2 o’clock light we are wandering through the neighbourhood
like neurons connecting through sunlight
*I stayed home sick today, but I still had to walk Max. We had a lovely midday meander.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
What a marvelous poem inspired by, “Having a coke with you,” (this was my first time to read.) I’m saving your poem to give it a try one day. And, I hope your sunny dog walk has made you feel better.
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I love this poem! I also stopped over to read the original before yours, and I ALSO am saving your poem, to try one day and maybe give it a go with my students.
Oh! I felt the ridiculousness of trying to get ANYWHERE on a walk with a dog. I have two of them, and even as somewhat well-behaved girlies a walk is. An. Exercise. In. PATIENCE.
Here’s hoping you feel better, and soon!
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Sorry that you’re sick, but I’m glad you stayed home to take care of yourself and I bet your dog was glad, too!
Love the repetition of “partly because” which fit well with all the stimuli on a spring walk.
Fantastic final line!
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Great imitation! I like to try my hand at imitation. I usually do it with sentences. My students do so well with the activity and it’s such a wonderful way to apply grammar knowledge and recognize craft moves. After imitating, students often tell me they’ve never written such a good sentence before. I’m making note of Frank O’Hara’s “Having a Coke with You.” Perhaps I will try an imitation. Oh, I’m putting a reference to your poem in my notes.
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