The hero/heroine of this epic poem has come a very long way from birth through childhood, on through adolescence, into the early stages of adulthood. A careful study of the timeline may make the clock seem to move ahead faster than it might; however, a hero/heroine’s journey does not obey temporal laws. Sometimes, the events seem to be set in a future period; at others, the incidents appear to be in the in the realm of childhood. Another aspect that runs through this epic is the variety of other characters encountered. This alone is enough to make James Joyce sit up and pay attention. Speaking of Joyce, it may be of interest to some readers that three of the Wannaskan Almanac writers have formed a Ulysses study group: Chairman Joe, Kim Red Shoes, and Jack Pine Savage. So, if you need an annotation “dictionary” to get through some of our posts, just feel very, very scholarly.
Our story now picks up speed as our traveler bids farewell (mostly) to the characters who have been with us throughout the longest “Song” so far. The range of morals and motivations stretches wide among the population. The MC must make choices, delve moral dilemmas, and come face to face with “self-or-other” alternatives. Yes, the MC soon enough will enter another city, the second large one so far on this journey.
O’Gill and I descend to the street
his bone tucked in my pack; close, he follows
nose at my heels as if he wore the leash
I’ve draped over my shoulders slack and long
Clearly, this dog will follow me awhile
as he knows I have his bone in my bag
Not much else inhabits this sack of mine
as I’ve left my small stash of belongings
on my boat and most of it’s still stowed there
I realize I must decide about
O’Gill – whether to take him with me now
return him to the boy who cares little
or Skitch and Mim who treat this dog much like
a rug, although they do stoop to feed him
I turn, look down and gaze into this dog’s
brown, wide eyes as he stares up at my face
his eyebrows rise – he watches me as if
to say, “Make up your mind about my fate”
Since he is free of tether, I reason
that if he wanted to, he’d run for home
Maybe he’d run off but for the stewed bone
I see I am taking both sides for him
as he waits patiently still staring up
We walk awhile until I find a tree
with thicker branches low enough for me
to stash the bone in a crook, walk away
to see if O’Gill will still follow me
And he does! Aha! This is a clear sign
that it is me and not the bone at all
Oh, but my hands and bag must smell like bone
still, I will take this sign in my favor
Two more to go
Three’s the charm
I’ve never asked O’Gill to do a thing
I don’t even know what he understands
So, here goes with the second – “O’Gill, sit”
and he plops down on his furry bottom
and he never stops contemplating me
“O’Gill, down,” I tell him, and sure enough
he plants himself belly down on the path
stays there still regarding me with cocked head
“O’Gill, stay,” I command, and walk away
I look back. He seems bonded to the spot
Three of three, I chuckle, and run to him
ruffle his ears and kiss his wet-black nose
We get up, find ourselves a patch of grass
I am musing on my two victories
a rush of promise rises in my heart
as it does, I know the third’s identity
O’Gill pants, his tongue lolling to the side
almost looks like he makes a doggish smile
This third one poses no easy answer
because the response must be one, true name
The name, O’Gill, just doesn’t fit this dog
so loyal, constant and kind of spirit
“We have to find the perfect name for you.”
With that, the to-be-named dog spews a sneeze
crinkles his nose, and if he had full lips
they would pucker in anticipation
of another huge sneeze and maybe more
but he snorts softly, settles back - “Arrrrr gooosh
“Argoosh?” I ask him. He shakes his head hard
but maybe he’s just shaking out the nose
irritant that made him sneeze
And the next sneeze erupts: “Arrrr gooosh!”
“What do your sounds mean?” I move close to him.
“Arrrrg- oo oo oo – This time sounds
like a howl, - a wolf? “Hmmm,” I think
“Arrrrg – goo – goo goo – Argoo? Argoo?
Yes! sounds like Argoo,” This dog names himself!
Yes, somehow this seems a little off key.
Let’s keep the “Ar” and make it “gose”
“Argose, it is,” I say and scratch his ears
He pants approval, it would appear
I am pleased for us that we’ve made the change
“And that makes three!” I shout and raise my arms
Argose stands – performs a puppy play bow
I realize I’ve stacked three charms to win
yet, rescuing a superb beast is no sin
so at least I tell myself – after all
Argose is the one who has chosen me
Now that my new companion is confirmed
I check my conscience to find true vision
and the evidence for my decision
I think of those three and their devious ways
or whether I again mean to betray
Most of all, I see how happy Argose
seems right now, a panting smile or a grin
Maybe I’m seeing what I want to see
I check my motives and I must agree
I want Argose – I want his company
Is this enough to steal, lie, and betray?
I promised I would not betray again
This time I’m ready for not one but three
and the one I hurt is not them but me
I want to run back to Hertwig to see
what he would gently advise me to do
I know the answer, and this decides it
It doesn’t matter how dreadful they are
What matters is I know the truth and can’t
ignore the days ahead when I’ll wonder
how would I feel if Argose was snatched from me?
No three charms or rationalization
justifies such a continuation
“Come on, Argose,” I say, standing up straight
“Let’s go ask them if you can come with me.
That’s the only way you and I can be free”
Argose gives one quick bark of approval
and without a leash again follows me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the way to Skitch and crew, I feel light
and virtuous and clean – this doesn’t last
as we near the place – I almost turn back
and I know Argose will follow me there
This is about my honesty
not about this charming dog’s loyalty
As I assumed, all three of them are home
As we enter, I remember Seagrace
wrapped and tucked, out of sight, in my bundle
I am afraid of losing her as well as Argose
so, to distract them, I start to mumble
“Oh-ho,” says Skitch, “It is our scavenger
“What’s that you have there in your wretched bag”
“Nothing much. Some clothes, Ar . . . O’Gill’s leash
and a big bone that Hertwig gave him”
“Looks like more than that to me. Let me see.”
“All right. All right. I’ll untie it,” which I do
reaching in and pulling out all but Seagrace
who I won’t surrender – she is mine
“Come on,” says Skitch. “There’s something more inside”
“My gift from Hertwig, and it’s not for you,”
I say this steady and with conviction
Skitch looks at me with piercing suspicion
“Out with it now, or I’ll take it my way!”
Thinking fast, I change the subject quickly
“I just came back to say good-bye to you
and to ask a question of all of you”
Mim and Nevil have been creeping around
the edges of the confrontation
now pull together as blood relations
“Yes,” says Mim, “Let’s see what you’ve got in there”
“First, let me ask my question. Then you’ll see.”
“All right. All right,” says Skitch speaking for all
“What is it you want to ask, former friend?”
He’s changed his tone, now he sees I’m serious
“I’ve only come to say good-bye today
and ask if Ar- O’Gill can come with me
Now, Mim butts in, “I don’t care what you do
with the mutt.” Nevil stays silent, looking
out a window apparently uncaring
Skitch scratches his chin and purses his lips
“Well. . . I think maybe we can make a deal.”
I already know what kind of “deal” he wants
He can’t contain his curiosity
But there will be no reciprocity
Without thinking, I unwrap my bundle
I take out Seagrace and start to fumble
nervously for what I’m about to do
Skitch’s eyes light up and he lunges out
to take the Dragon from my sweating hands
I whisk her away and back into my pack
Whistling for Argose, I make for the door
“A look at my Dragon exchanged for your dog!”
I shout back boldly over my shoulder
I leap three stairs at once with Argose behind
Skitch is too heavy and slow to catch me
Mim shouts and Nevil’s still window-gazing
Skitch yells angrily after me, “You thief!”
as we speed downstairs and out to the street
Background
In any travelogue, odyssey, or epic journey, the center point of interest is the protagonist, of course. It is intriguing to monitor choices made or forced, behaviors based on circumstances and conditions, and objectives achieved or not. Speaking of objectives, let’s note, at this point, that our MC doesn’t seem to have many, perhaps not even one, with the exception of movement. Movement away and movement toward – drawn in and pushed away. Nothing less than a moral compass is being forged. Surveying these aspects could bring each of us face-to-face with our own moral choices and constant righteousness, and even wickedness. But who is doing the judging?
Exploration 1: Is the MC’s decision to take O’Gill moral?
Exploration 2: Is the story of a traveler and a dog too cliched? (Example: Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley.)
Exploration 3: As the MC and Argose “speed downstairs and out to the street,” where do you imagine they are headed?
ReplyDelete1. I wouldn’t lose sleep over taking the dog of those reprobates. But it’s good the MC is developing a conscience.
2. Nothing wrong with using clichés. It’s how you make them cliche.
3. They better get in that boat and head South.
Good advice on all three counts, and right on target. Of course, you already know about my affinity with dogs. JP S
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