Analysis of My Best Friend



His coat was soft and silky. His eyes were baby blue.
His nose was pink and runny, and his legs were strong and true.
It really was amazing how that pup could steal your heart.
I never would imagine that a dog could be so smart.

He seemed to get in trouble from the first day that I got him.
If he hadn't been so cute, I'm sure my wife just may have shot him.
He ate our son's retainer and some four remotes I think.
If you didn't watch your sandwich, he would steal it in a blink.

When he learned to open doors, our fridge was bungee corded.
every doorknob in the house was chewed up and distorted.
In spite of all the mischief though, our home was filled with love.
I wouldn't trade him for an angel that descended from above.

As time went by, the years rolled on and he reached seventeen.
Although his hips grew weak and frail, his mind stayed strong and keen.
Then the day came when we knew his time with us was through.
And when he died, I have no doubt that part of me died too.

There hasn't been a day gone by when he didn't cross my mind.
Paw prints straight across my heart were all he left behind.
I find a lot of comfort knowing when I've met my fate,
he'll be standing there, tail wagging, waiting at that Pearly Gate!


Scheme AABB CCDD EEFF GGAA HHII
Poetic Form Quatrain 
Metre 1111010110101 11110100110101 11010101111111 11010101011111 111101010111111 1110111111111111 11101010011111 111011101111001 111110110111010 100100011110010 011101011011111 1101111101010101 11110111011101 1111101111101 1011111111111 01111111111111 110101111110111 1110111011101 11011101011111 111011101011101
Closest metre Iambic heptameter
Characters 1,234
Words 266
Sentences 20
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 47
Words per line (avg) 12
Letters per stanza (avg) 190
Words per stanza (avg) 49

About this poem

A lot has been said about the bond between a boy, or a man and his dog. This is about my experience.

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Written on January 27, 2023

Submitted by npirandy on January 27, 2023

Modified on May 03, 2023

1:22 min read
96

Randy West

I'm 76 years old and a combat veteran from Vietnam. I used to compose poetry while on ambush patrol as a way of staying awake on watch, since falling asleep could be hazardous to my health. I started early in life though, because, as a child, I would write little tidbits to my mom for the heck of it. more…

All Randy West poems | Randy West Books

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