Black Dogs Songs Analysis

Crystal Fulp

Cooper

CRWR 212 Y

April 8, 2014

Back Dog Songs Analysis

            Lisa Jarnot’s Black Dog Songs is an interesting read. It’s an interesting read because it made me think about the important things in life to a certain degree. However, I did not enjoy this book. In fact, I didn’t even come close to enjoying it. Yes, the poems were lyrical and pretty, but very few actually meant anything to me. I couldn’t find many (if anything) to relate to. For some reason they just weren’t accessible to me. There is one section that is the exception though. The section entitled “They” did strike a few cords with me, but that is only because it’s the only section that I even come close to understanding or even connecting with.

            Lisa Jarnot is an excellent writer. Her pen (or keyboard) is truly her tool of artistic expression. She uses mechanical devices flawlessly and her sentences are lyrical and rhythmic.  Without really understanding the content, I can see why some people would enjoy her work. As I have previously stated, the section entitled “They” really struck a cord within me. I’m usually not the type of person who is overly emotional or even sentimental, but this section left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I usually carry a very jaded view of humanity in general and that section gave me hope that maybe, just maybe I might be wrong and humanity is actually good. “They” is filled with poems about love, relationships, and just enjoying the simple things in life. The characters in her poems don’t hate each other or do terrible things. No, they are people who cherish each other and take joy in simple things. They are the people that I wish I could be and hope to become. Her use of character is what really helped me to connect to her writing in this section. In fact, her poem entitled, “They Loved Paperclips” really resonated with me because the characters didn’t find fault or complain about anything. They just loved the simple beauty in everything and each other. It was a beautiful prose poem.

            Jarnot is also a master of description and imagery. The poem entitled, “Plastic Spider Catcher” also resonated with me. This poem described freedom and summer and how those are staples of one’s childhood. At least, that is what it made me think about. The poem described being outdoors on a warm day and feeling the sun beat down on you while experiencing the peace and beauty that is nature. The tone of the poem is a child-like carefree tone and it’s like I could almost feel carefree as I read it. It brought me back to the point in time where life wasn’t hard, it just was.

            “Hockey Night in Canada” was also an interesting read. I’ve never been much of a sports fan, but I could still relate to this poem. This poem had a very excited tone that made me remember times when I excitedly waited for things to begin. That feeling is only amplified when other people are waiting with you. This poem isn’t really about sports, but instead about loving something, anything so much that you can hardly wait for it to begin.

            As I said, the book was very interesting, but not my cup of tea. However, I must admit that I’m glad I read the book. A few of her poems helped me reconnect with parts of myself that have been absent for some time. Her words evoke very powerful feelings that one can’t escape from, even if they don’t otherwise enjoy her work.