‘Lone Dog’ a poem by Irene Rutherford Mcleod (1891-)

Irene Rutherford McCleod, an Australian born poet who wrote ‘Songs to Save the Soul’ (1915) and ‘Before Dawn’ (1918); her poem ‘Lone Dog’ has been republished in many anthologies.

She was the sister-in-law of A.A. Milne and indeed one of her daughters, Lesley, married Christopher Robin Milne in 1949.

We love the the rhythm of this poem; the way it chugs along and  raises a snarled lip to anyone who dares challenge. It’s definitely one to be read aloud and students can write their own versions by simply changing the list of adjectives –

I’m a meek dog, a sleepy dog, a lazy dog it’s true; lolling by the fire is what I’d rather do.

Lone Dog

I’m a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog, and lone;

I’m a rough dog, a tough dog, hunting on my own;

I’m a bad dog, a mad dog, teasing silly sheep;

I love to sit and bay the moon, to keep fat souls from sleep.

I’ll never be a lap dog, licking dirty feet,

A sleek dog, a meek dog, cringing for my meat,

Not for me the fireside, the well-filled plate,

But shut door, and sharp stone, and cuff and kick, and hate.

Not for me the other dogs, running by my side,

Some have run a short while, but none of them would bide.

O mine is still the lone trail, the hard trail, the best,

Wide wind, and wild stars, and hunger of the quest!