2008 Haute Dog Poetry Contest Winners Announced

$100 WINNERS
#415 Jesse Yuth, 5th grade (his poem is below)
#435 no i.d. on this lady
#432 Marilyn, 3rd grade (her poem is below)

$20 RUNNERS-UP
#195 Gary Perlberg, adult
#417 Phoebe Hao, 5th grade

"Haute Dog" by Jesse Yuth, age 11
Oh,
Haute Dog,
I found you,
You look like a weenie
With a great big beanie,
I can give you a biscuit as a treat,
But you're a carnivore,
Let's get you some meat,
You can hide in a log,
Can't see you in the fog,
You can jump at a bee,
And beat Bruce Lee,
How did I find you?
You stink like a lost dog,
Or a dirty ol' hog,
I think I'll keep you
Forever and ever
Oh haute dog
You are so clever.

"Haute Dog" by Marilyn  Eteaki, 3rd grade

Haute dog, haute dog,
So cool, so kind,
I know you want
To play with other dogs,
But please
Haute dog
Live with me
Your floppy ears
Make me want to squeeze you
You’re so precious and fine
Please don’t whine,
You’re so squat,
You make me squat,
I promise to
Take care of you,
Till the day I die,
But why?
You’ll trust me
My little haute dog.
 

Haute Dog Poetry Contest April 12, 2 p.m., free to enter or spectate, at the Dog Beach, 1 Argonne Ave., Belmont Shore | MAP

Haute Dog Poetry Contest Will Award $100 Bills
< Best Original Verses Will Win

THE 5TH ANNUAL "Haute Dog Poetry Contest" will be held at Belmont Shore's 3-acre, off-leash Dog Beach Zone on Sat., April 12, at 2 p.m., on the sand between Roycroft and Argonne avenues in Long Beach. This canine event -- part of the Long Beach Poetry Festival -- is sponsored by HauteDogs.org, Justin Rudd and his nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Team (CAT).

$100 CASH PRIZES will be awarded to at least three poets for the best original poems. This is an oral poetry contest, so the author must be present to read their own poem(s).

FREE ENTRY. Limit two original poems per contestant. Poetry does NOT have to be memorized. No age divisions. All ages welcome. No pre-registration is required. Dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend.  A microphone and sound system will be provided. 

The public is invited to attend. Bring a towel or beach chair to sit on. Attendees are also encouraged to read a dog-themed poem by their favorite author during a non-juried portion of the program.

Street parking is free or beachfront meter parking (enter at 1 Bennett Ave., by the Belmont Olympic Pool) is 25 cents each 15 minutes.

RSVP to Justin@JustinRudd.com if you know you can make it. Or, just show up.

2007 Winning Poets

1st Somath Duong (Garden Grove), "A Day with Dooney" poem below
2nd D'Ellen Hutchens (Alta Loma), "The Ballad of Manchu"
3rd Joni Newman (Lakewood), "Say Goodnight, Montgomery" poem below, right column

2007 WINNER
A Day with Dooney
by Somath Duong

Wroof, Wroof, Wroof - It's time to wake up Daddy.

It's been too long since you last held me.

It felt good last night under the moonlight in your arms, a warm embrace.

I can still taste the salt from licking your old dirty face.

I can't help but give you hugs and kisses, especially after your long day at work.

No matter how tired, you're never a jerk.

Even when I'm not on my best behavior, like Dennis the Menace, I'll snap, growl, and howl.

With you it's always fair play and never a foul.

That's why I like to wake you up daily and watch you slowly open up your lazy eyes.

To see your smile as bright as the morning sunrise.

It's no surprise to see you kiss mommy first, get out of bed, and rub the top of my head.

When you make breakfast I know I'm also being fed.

Our daily bread consists of love and affection.

When I'm full, that's when you'll have my full and undivided attention.

You would then command and toss my ducky across the room.

I'll clear out on to the floor in search like a sweeping broom.

Until I'm out of breath, tired, and feeling thirsty.

You'll give me water, scratch my tummy, until I'm back to my normal self- full of energy.

Later in the afternoon, It's just me and you to the park before it gets cold and dark.

We'll run a thousand races, but I'll always place first in the one hundred yard.

With no disregard, you'll clean after my accidents like no other.

I'm happy to have you as my wonderful father.

Now, finally after a long day, it's time to go to sleep.

You would whisper in my ears, "I'm the shepard who found his favorite sheep".

Gazing at the stars you would say, "My dearest Dooney, my darling daughter."

"You inspire me to never give up and to fight even harder."

"For what is ours - the one and only Family."

"Which consists of me, you, and finally mommy."

 

g Subject: Rosie the Bulldog Happy Dog, Happy Dog by Justin Rudd! in 2005 event organizer (pictured) Happy Dog, Happy Dog Rosie's her name. She makes me happy. Love is her game. Silly Dog, Silly Dog Wet after her shower She runs 'round the house With abandon and power. Smart Dog, Smart Dog Give her a treat She will do tricks Each one complete. Gentle Dog, Gentle Dog Show me a child She'll charm them and love them. She's gentle and mild. Pretty Girl, Pretty Girl Her silky short hair It's striped like a tiger Her face oh so fair. Sleepy dog, sleepy dog Show her the bed So dances of jerky treats Can leap in her head. Baby Girl, Baby Girl Her nickname rings true With cuddles and kisses For me and for you. Hungry dog, hungry dog She likes to partake In kibble and biscuits In chicken and steak. Fat girl, my fat girl To me you’re a "10" Others say you're heavy We all know you're thin. Long tongue, your long tongue It's wet and so pink. Your breath smells like candy And, no, it don't stink. Play girl, my play girl She likes to chase balls She fetches and retrieves In the yard and down halls. Thirsty girl, thirsty girl Spring fresh is her wish But cold tap tastes great Just fill up her dish. Rosie Girl, my Rosie Girl The only girl for me Since four months I've been there For every poop and pee. Strong Girl, my strong Girl When doctors gave us scare Twas cancer then healing Now more time to share. Your daddy, I'm daddy I'm here for you dear Just bark out my name For you have no fear. Best friend, my best friend Long live we together For comfort and caring Forever and ever. g READ ANOTHER POEM BY JUSTIN FOR ROSIE

I AM YOUR DOG

I am your dog, and I have a little something I'd like to whisper in your ear. I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work, some have children to raise.  It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life. Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See the way my dark brown eyes look at yours?  They are slightly cloudy now.  That comes with age. The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle. You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine?  Do you see a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world?  A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a simple moment of your time? That is all I ask. To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me.  So many times you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen, of other of my kind, passing. Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat.  Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land. I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself  that you did not have just "One more day" with me. Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me.  We have NOW, together. So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes. What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come to me not as "alpha" or as "trainer" or even "Mom or Dad," come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another's eyes, and talk.  I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself, or even life in general. You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with. Someone very different from you, and here I am. I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a "Dog on two feet" -- I know what you are. You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still. Now, come sit with me, on the floor.  Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes.  Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self.  We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short. --author unkown