Comment from K. Lang-Slattery

Excellent

Thanks for this special short form (Haiku) about a working dog. I love your use of figurative words like "sun-scorched" and "hot shade." Yes, even the shade is hot in the great southwest desert areas! Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 19-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022

Thank you! A most encouraging review.

Comment from Julcia

Excellent

A nice response to the call for 5-7-5- poems. I am pleased to see a working
dog represented in a summertime view of hot weather self preserving
behavior's. If you could find a picture of a dog panting then it would be
fab. Fondly, Julcia

 Comment Written 19-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022

Thank you Very much. You are right. Yes, I wanted a dog panting, but couldn?t find one. It also had to be in shade, under a tree, and not beautiful soft grass, and one which looked like a working dog, no children etc. ?
Many thanks.

reply by Julcia on 20-Jun-2022

I saw a great pic of a black and white
dog in the heat of summer. I hope its'
yours. Julcia

reply by Julcia on 20-Jun-2022

Great job! Julcia

Comment from Fleedleflump

Excellent

One has to admire those dogs, loyal and enthusiastic, helping keep farms working and the world moving. Great use of words to enhance the dryness of the parched land. I'd be right there in that shade :-)

Mike

 Comment Written 19-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022

Thank you Mike. I appreciate your great review.

Comment from Bridge

Excellent

I loved your poem. I love dogs. The pic of the dog is very cute. Very well written and very well described. It paints a vivid picture. All the best to you in the contest.
With regards

 Comment Written 19-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022

Thank you Bridge! I love your positive and enthusiastic review.

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

Sometimes the sheep dogs on the farm on which my house stands dive into water to keep cool. I have seen them lying with only their noses in the air like a snorkel.I when the sun is really hot and they have been working hard.

 Comment Written 19-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022

Thank you very much for reviewing. Here in times of drought there is no water even in the dams and the animals need water to be brought to drinking troughs. Very hard for all the animals as well as the farmers.

Comment from AnnieDawn

Excellent

I have seen these working dogs and they love their work, They do a good job and continue beyond what one expects so a bit of rest in the shade is needed and you have given a great description in your post. Great job.

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 Comment Written 19-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022

Thank you very much. I appreciate your positive review!

Comment from Frank Malley

Good

"Worker Takes a Break" uses a 5-7-5 form to say a few quick things about a working dog in the heat of summer. I only know it's about a working dog because of the title. I see this as an outcome of the short form, but I don't think it would be impossible to include the work of the dog in the body of the poem:

Sheep munch, dog pants
She maintains their boundaries
Cools off in the shade

I thought of using 'bitch' instead of 'She,' but it's too loaded a word for this genuinely innocent use.

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 Comment Written 19-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022

Thanks for your review. It doesn't really matter if the dog is a working dog or not. The 5-7-5 applies to any dog outside. I chose that title simply to explain why the dog is outside in such heat. Thanks for your suggestion (which has only four syllables in the first line), but I prefer it as it is, with the focus on the heat of summer and its effect on the dog.

reply by Frank Malley on 19-Jun-2022

shoulda read 'munches'. All the best. Frank