Slam+Poetry

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Falling In Love Is Like Owning A Dog by Taylor Mali

First of all, it's a big responsibility, especially in a city like New York. So think long and hard before deciding on love. On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security: when you're walking down the street late at night and you have a leash on love ain't no one going to mess with you. Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable. Who knows what love could do in its own defense? On cold winter nights, love is warm. It lies between you and lives and breathes and makes funny noises. Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs. It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy. Love doesn't like being left alone for long. But come home and love is always happy to see you. It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life, but you can never be mad at love for long. Is love good all the time? No! No! Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love. Love makes messes. Love leaves you little surprises here and there. Love needs lots of cleaning up after. Sometimes you just want to get love fixed. Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper and swat love on the nose, not so much to cause pain, just to let love know Don't you ever do that again! Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk. Because love loves exercise. It runs you around the block and leaves you panting. It pulls you in several different directions at once, or winds around and around you until you're all wound up and can't move. But love makes you meet people wherever you go. People who have nothing in common but love stop and talk to each other on the street. Throw things away and love will bring them back, again, and again, and again. But most of all, love needs love, lots of it. And in return, love loves you and never stops.

Key Words/ Phrases 'love' 'it pulls you in several different directions at once' 'love makes messes.' 'love loves you and never stops.' 'love needs love' 'love is unpredictable.'

Poetic Devices Repetition- Love... is, makes, etc., 'love will bring them back, again, and again, and again.' Metaphor/Simile- Falling in love is like owning a dog, Euphemism- 'little surprises here and there' Personification (in this case... animalization?)- 'love is warm', 'it lies between you', 'it runs you around the block'

Theme This poem is obviously talking about the ups and downs of owning a dog, talking about it as if the dog's name were Love. But, if you listen to it/read it forgetting the dog references and just think of the concept of love, he says some really wise things about how love, although difficult and unpredictable and sometimes frustrating, it can also be joyful and meaningful, just like owning a dog. Another things I think the author is trying to say about love is that sometimes love hurts and you blame love, and you might say 'I hate love, I'm never going back to it' but everyone needs it in their life so no matter what you will love again ('you can never be mad at love for long.') and it will be there for you, ('love loves you and never stops.') still frustrating and supremely satisfying. The line 'throw things away and love will bring them back again' could reflect this, and maybe that love isn't just about the future but it includes your past and brings back memories, as well as the metaphor for a game of fetch.

Why I chose this Poem When I first clicked on the video, I was intrigued by the metaphor. After I heard it though, I realized that while on the surface it is funny and lighthearted, it is insightful about love and dog ownership. That is what ultimately made me choose it, that combination of witty and wise.