This Is a Poem

This is a poem about a dog
Any dog you have in mind
Any breed any color any size

This is a poem about a dog
With a leash around its neck
Any leash you have in mind
But one frayed at the edges

This is a poem about a dog
With a leash around its neck
Tied at the back of a pick-up truck
Any pick-up truck you have in mind
Any model or year any color any size

This is a poem about a dog
With a leash around its neck
Tied at the back of a pick-up truck
Zooming past my car on this stretch of road
Any road you have in mind, anyplace you imagine
Gravel asphalt concrete in the country or in the city

This is a poem about a dog
With a leash around its neck
Tied at the back of a pick-up truck
Zooming past my car on this stretch of road
And missing by a feather a bird flitting by
Any bird you have in mind
Any species color size

This is a poem about a dog
Jumping off the back of a pick-up truck
The leash breaking at its frayed ends
And me hitting the brakes on this stretch of road
Trying not to hit the dog chasing after the bird
Even as under my breath I utter this poem
Words scampering away on the page
Dog leash truck road bird freedom happiness

Author’s note: Writing poetry with linguistic theories in mind allows for a playful exploration of both language and communicative expression. "This Is a Poem" is a poetic investigation of the performative aspect of language as outlined by J. L. Austin and John Searle.

Published in ETAS Journal Vol. 32, No. 1 (Winter 2014).