Last week I read Rose Cappelli’s post. She decided to write a poem each month using her One Little Word. I have actually picked two words: Still and Believe. I’ve been determined to train my puppy Albert “Al-Bear”. He is an 11 month old miniature golden doodle with a lot of energy. He’s been developing some bad habits. One of them is barking at us when he wants to play. I bought a collar with a vibrator on it, so I can give him a little buzz (remote control) every time he barks at us. It’s working…slowly.
I receive a prompt each week from Kelly Bennet called News from the Fishbowl. Last week she introduced me to a form I hadn’t heard of, Shadorma. It’s from Spain. There are 6 lines with a syllable count of 3, 5, 3, 3, 7, 5. The topic can be anything, but usually the poem is all one sentence.
Puppy Training
I believe this puppy can learn to be still to cuddle warming my cold morning lap– blending our perfume.
Margaret, thank you for the Shadorma poetry form. Go Albert! We believe you can do it too. I especially love those last two lines of your poem, so sweet and expressive.
Hi Margaret, Puppies can be hard, & the reward comes after a lot of time! You’ve shown the precise challenge of puppies. They just don’t know, until you show them. Like Rose, weaving your ‘words’ into this poem of Albert’s ups & downs is just right.
Margaret, I love your Shadorma poem about Albert, especially your last two lines and how you worked in two senses. Blending our perfume-is a clever way of giving the reader an image of a close cuddle. I’ve always had cats, but I love puppies, too. I wonder if you could teach Albert to bring you a toy in his mouth when he wants to play instead of him barking. Golden doodles are my favorite kind of dog, so smart, too. I love how Albert isn’t the usual “golden” but instead a black doodle. He is adorable and must be pretty big by now.
Our female one-year-old cat, Annalise talks all the time, but she learned how to bring a spring toy when she wants me to throw it. Her brother, Lars can’t seem to figure out how I know he’s on or jumping off the table, when I’m in a different room. He has light blue eyes, and he widens them with surprise and gives me this but-I’m-such-a-good-boy-look. 🙂
Thanks for the advice. When he calms down and stops barking he gets a treat and we throw a toy. He really just wants to play, so we are trying to reward the good. Cats have personality. We have two of them.
Margaret with belief on your side, stillness is sure to bring peace. Your poem shares your advice and persistence for Albert to find stillness instead of barking. The shadorma you created ends with belief. Enjoy training Albert!
Awwwwww, I love that blended perfume. Puppy scent is WONDERFUL! It brings your poem alive for me. Now, I need to find a puppy to snuggle. But, I’ll have to settle for a young adult cat that prefers my daughter. Sigh.
Margaret Simon lives on the Bayou Teche in New Iberia, Louisiana. She teaches gifted elementary students, writes poetry and children's books. Welcome to a space of peace, poetry, and personal reflection. Walk in kindness.
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, thank you for the Shadorma poetry form. Go Albert! We believe you can do it too. I especially love those last two lines of your poem, so sweet and expressive.
Thanks for the shoutout Margaret. I love the rhythm of this form and the way you weaved in both of your words. That last line is perfection.
Hi Margaret, Puppies can be hard, & the reward comes after a lot of time! You’ve shown the precise challenge of puppies. They just don’t know, until you show them. Like Rose, weaving your ‘words’ into this poem of Albert’s ups & downs is just right.
So sweet! And I love thinking about a puppy learning to be still. 🙂
Margaret, I love your Shadorma poem about Albert, especially your last two lines and how you worked in two senses. Blending our perfume-is a clever way of giving the reader an image of a close cuddle. I’ve always had cats, but I love puppies, too. I wonder if you could teach Albert to bring you a toy in his mouth when he wants to play instead of him barking. Golden doodles are my favorite kind of dog, so smart, too. I love how Albert isn’t the usual “golden” but instead a black doodle. He is adorable and must be pretty big by now.
Our female one-year-old cat, Annalise talks all the time, but she learned how to bring a spring toy when she wants me to throw it. Her brother, Lars can’t seem to figure out how I know he’s on or jumping off the table, when I’m in a different room. He has light blue eyes, and he widens them with surprise and gives me this but-I’m-such-a-good-boy-look. 🙂
Thanks for the advice. When he calms down and stops barking he gets a treat and we throw a toy. He really just wants to play, so we are trying to reward the good. Cats have personality. We have two of them.
Margaret with belief on your side, stillness is sure to bring peace. Your poem shares your advice and persistence for Albert to find stillness instead of barking. The shadorma you created ends with belief. Enjoy training Albert!
Your new logo is gorgeous!
Awwwwww, I love that blended perfume. Puppy scent is WONDERFUL! It brings your poem alive for me. Now, I need to find a puppy to snuggle. But, I’ll have to settle for a young adult cat that prefers my daughter. Sigh.
Such a comforting feeling you describe with these two lines,
“warming my cold morning lap–
blending our perfume.”
Love the blending perfume in there too!
Good luck with “Al-Bear,” your whole post makes me smile as I’m sure your puppy does, thanks Margaret! 😊
Like other commenters have said, those last two lines are so lovely. Good luck training your wee ‘Bear!
I love that you got BOTH of your OLWs into your poem!
I wasn’t familiar with the Shadorma form, Margaret. It’s lovely and, oh, sweet Albert will get there! 🙂