OH POOR ORPHANED UTAH POETRY
KEN BREWER 1941-2006
Ken Brewer, Utah's Poet Laureate, Professor of literature, writing and poetry at Utah State University for 32 years, and a delightful human being, died at home last night of pancreatic cancer. A gifted teacher and ambassador of the humanities, his hundreds of well-crafted and accessible poems stand as a tribute to a great guy. Here's one of my favorites:
WHY DOGS STOPPED FLYING
Before humans,
dogs flew everywhere.
Their wings of silky fur
wrapped hollow bones.
Their tails wagged
like rudders through wind,
their stomachs bare
to the sullen earth.
Out of sorrow
for the first humans--
stumbling, crawling,
helpless and cold--
dogs folded their
great wings into paws
soft enough to walk
beside us forever.
They still weep for us,
pity our small noses,
our unfortunate eyes,
our dull teeth.
They lick our faces clean,
keep us warm at night.
Sometimes they remember flying
and bite our ugly hands.
-- Kenneth W. Brewer
Ken Brewer, Utah's Poet Laureate, Professor of literature, writing and poetry at Utah State University for 32 years, and a delightful human being, died at home last night of pancreatic cancer. A gifted teacher and ambassador of the humanities, his hundreds of well-crafted and accessible poems stand as a tribute to a great guy. Here's one of my favorites:WHY DOGS STOPPED FLYING
Before humans,
dogs flew everywhere.
Their wings of silky fur
wrapped hollow bones.
Their tails wagged
like rudders through wind,
their stomachs bare
to the sullen earth.
Out of sorrow
for the first humans--
stumbling, crawling,
helpless and cold--
dogs folded their
great wings into paws
soft enough to walk
beside us forever.
They still weep for us,
pity our small noses,
our unfortunate eyes,
our dull teeth.
They lick our faces clean,
keep us warm at night.
Sometimes they remember flying
and bite our ugly hands.
-- Kenneth W. Brewer
posted by Carel Brest van Kempen at 3:08 PM
70 Comments:
That's a lovely poem... but I think I'd need a heavy-duty umbrella to live in world of flying dogs!
The page is great, welcome to the blogger front page!
(Go to the blogger editor, you are the latest blog of note.)
R2K
My dad was a poet and when he was alive I never really gave his poems the attention they deserved. He died three weeks ago and when I stripped his house down I found his last batch of poems...I read them..suddenly got it...read the older ones...got them....then began to write poetry again myself. There can be no greater gift to the living on Earth than the poems left here by the now dead.
Finally...a blog about an animal lover. I like...
and THIS is what blogs are for, to turn us on to the best and the beauty and the secrets. (i think i've hit my threshold of celebrity gossip. and i don't even read it)
Thanks, I loved this and I'd never heard of him.
beautiful poem - thanks for posting it!
Thanks for sharing one of his poems. It is sad to know that he is no longer with us, but joyful to know that he has left behind something that we can all carry with us.
I think it's sad that crap writers make it to the top of the lists and yet they don't discuss this sort of poetry in Lit class. I really liked this poem. I certainly believe that dogs once flew!
Longing to be one with you, it hurts me when you rudely ignore what I say
Longing to love you, it personally pains me when you simply walk away
Times I have tried and tears that I’ve cried trying to reach into your heart
But further and farther you turn
from the father just tearing us apart
Come back to me
and I will love you all my life
Come back to me
and in me you can hide
Come back to me
and know you’re alive
I’ll sooth you and save you
lift you and raise you
Feed you and heal you
love you and praise you
Come back to me
Leaving you to be done with you racing to run from you I wash the dust from my feet
My memory of misery all throughout history shows my devotion complete
Times I have wished all written in lists all the things I need from your heart
But later and longer fuller and stronger I long for your love to restart
Come back to me
and I will love you all my life
Come back to me
and in me you can hide
Come back to me
and know you’re alive
I’ll sooth you and save you
lift you and raise you
Feed you and heal you
love you and praise you
Come back to me
I like yr poem ru_486. It expresses volumes of care.
Your lovely poem brought a tear to my eye.
Great poem. Sad to hear that he's no longer with us, but his memory will surely remain with those who knew and loved him.
That's a wonderful poem for us dog-dependents. It is wonderful to see a fellow artist with such a broad repertoire. You might enjoy my blog, www.clarkcountydiva.com.
Keep painting and posting.
Clark County Diva
I love this poem. It's great to see something so fresh. I never would have read something like that in a lit class.
Makes me want to get back to poetry again :)
Rockets
My first looking of this blog, and I find a poet that dies from the same disease than my husband, 2 years ago...I dont speak english very well, but, well...I dont know...
R.I.P. A sad day indeed, and I only stumbled across this blog.
R.I.P. A sad day indeed, and I only stumbled across this blog.
RIP. A sad day indeed. I stumbled across this page while just browsing and found myself spending quite a deal of time within the folds of your life.
Thanks to author! Nice poet.
Cute poem,did he write some one about cats?....Sounds he was a great person...RIP...
When i 1st saw the name of ur blog i thought i was about vampires....
what a lovely poem!
Thank you for sharing his poem and your amazing work.
We're gonna get along just fine.
Here I am - another visitor who came across your site because of the blogger front page. Glad I did. Wonderful art work. Interesting thoughts.
And the poem? Thank you for that. I'll pass it on to my dearest friend. Her furry companion helped her go on while she was close to despair.
Have bookmarked your page.
Found you as a result of Blogs of Note (of course) and they finally picked a good blog! Love the poetry about man's best friend.
I really like the concept of that poem. It is too bad that modern poetry tends to be rather overlooked by our society.
Yeah in this time of war, famine, disease, global warming... Poetry could really help :)
No I love poetry, all statements suggesting that it is just art aside.
Bathrooms
Rockets
I have always suspected this was true
I once wrote a short story about an argument between a man and his dog.
The point in contention being who was supposed to be Gods supreme being; man or dog...
Guess who won?
Farewell Ken - I did not know you in life -
It took all of five minutes on a Saturday morning to fall in love with your work
And I miss you already
Whenever a voice is taken from the choir there is a subtle but distinctive change
I feel your loss
I cannot replace you
But I have a voice - and I intend to use it
40 + years here on this planet have taught me somthing about what to say
But it has also spoken volumes to me about why I should say it.
And so I have begun...
Who will hear me?
I don't know - It doesnt matter
Let the audience find itself
I speak EARTH TALK
Hi, I dig your blog!
A potential NASA spokesman posting a poem about flying dogs? Has a certain poetic irony to it, no?
...adding myself to your list of fans.
amazing to knw tht there r ppl who give dogs the credit they really deserve....esp thru poetry
good job!
Most news out of Utah is on the ridiculous side, but this is indeed very sad. For many years I found Ken a welcome spirit on a campus that needed it, and though I haven't seen him since I left nine years ago, it is painful to know I never will again.
Well. Personally, I think fame hs it's price. Am still going for the leather bound edition though;)
*sigh*
xxx (faux groupie kisses) xxx
Nice blog, enjoyable poem. This is the second time I have come back. Good luck
Thank you for sharing such a lovely poem.
what a lovely poem! really simple but full of imagery, not peppered with flowery words. and about dogs! i love dogs.. what could be better? :)
Thanks for sharing the poem...A fitting tribute to a noble individual.
BionicBuddha
Well, thanks for the obit and the poem. Seems like you lost more than just an inspiration. My condolences to all the bereaved, including that wingless creature on his lap.
That dog is a cute little guy :)
R2K
Que pena !Mas ate os inteligentes morrem.Sorry for his died!
Wow!! Welcome to all of the new viewers directed this way by the "Blogs of Note" listing. It's kind of frightening to see all of this traffic; posting ones writing takes on a whole new aspect when you're aware of actually being read. I'm really happy to have been given the listing concurrent with this post. It's gratifying to be able to share Ken's legacy with so many. Thanks for all of these wonderful comments.
troppo bello il cagnolino...Ciao da Mauro.
I am a dog lover. I like the poem, its sweet,
I am a dog lover. I like the poem, i think its sweet.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Carel
As a cat-lover I have to hand it to you. Your tribute to dogs is sweet and touching.
Lovely page and your tribute to the poet is heartwarming.
I have to ask. With a name like Carel Pieter - is there South African blood flowing through your veins?
I do and was just wondering...
TCW: As far as I know, I'm not derived from any Afrikaaners. The Dutch traveled widely in previous centuries, leaving names like mine in many places, South Africa among them. My ancestors settled in Indonesia at the end of the eighteenth century. My father ultimately emigrated to the United States, where I was born. Tot ziens!
wow
Relamente ugly hands, for deprive them of the freedom, and in some cases to maltreat them... if you want to know as a person values the people whom she loves, of to them one plant, or an animal... Generally the plant dies, due to cares, and the dog is esbofetiado by its domo in which unloads the being estresse diario in the animal poor person. But the dogs stop to fly, when they leave to believe its dreams.... Ana Mail: sininho.ana@gmail.com
Yes, I was just reading the comment about the cat above--I hadn't thought of it that way until now (I am more connected to cats than to dogs), and every once in a while, in the eyes of a pet, you see this depth of "knowing"--like they know what you need....or something. Oh, I miss my kitties...Thank you for reminding me of what they mean to me as my pets (or really, me as their pet, I suppose).
i like your blog
I personally feel dat a wrld with flying dogs wud b so much fun. Keep up de spirit. Hell Yeah.
Utah rules
J'aime beaucoup les peintures de ce blog !
De véritables chef d'oeuvres !!
Un grand bravo !
You know this poem reminds me of the issues over the Iditarod and other dog races.
Many feel that these are cruel to the dogs, which can get injured or die.
However, I feel that most dogs would rather life such an exciting life than just sit around in a house all day. To be able to fly, as you say, they way they used to.
Bathrooms
Rockets
:)
YOu want to know the REAL reasons dogs don't fly anymore? Genetic engineering. It was the only way they could survive the fall of the Great Dog Civilization.
Unfortunately, dogs have since been unable to reclaim their ancient technology, as the genetic modifications removed their opposable thumbs and sentience.
What a wonderful and funny poem. Poetry is such an underrated art - EVERY word of that poem was perfectly chosen. Thanks for sharing it!
Cannot find a more perfect timing to read your poem...just brought my 12 year old son to watch Walt Disney's 'Below Eight', a movie inspired by Antarctic Expedition Team including 8 sled dogs.
I read this poem a few days ago, and loved it... I just came back and re-read it and loved it even more.
The poem was a beautiful thing, wise and sad and lovely.
I grok! I would not think there would be much to Utah poetry but obviously there was....was.
god blessed you a talent a talent to write but now you came away from the world but you left your work behind thank you god bless R.I.P. Rigor Vitae my your words spread to all to give inspiration like it did to me.
What a great poem!
very lovely poem indeed
Loved the poem, wonderful tail wag and so perfect with the poet's picture.
ah, dogs, what would we do without them?
dogs understood... you seem like someone that would enjoy these:
------------------
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous
Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
-Ann Landers
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
-Will Rogers
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings
The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.
-M. Acklam
Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate.
-Sigmund Freud
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.
-Rita Rudner
A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.
-Robert Benchley
Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
-Franklin P. Jones
If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.
-James Thurber
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.
-Unknown
My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
-Joe Weinstein
Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!
-Anne Tyler
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain
You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'
- Dave Barry
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret
My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.
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