Editor's note
Ranking is generated by Storgy's classification model, which scores each poem's thematic depth on this subject relative to the rest of the corpus. The list is re-indexed weekly as new poems enter the public-domain corpus.
Best poems about — Storgy
Dog.
Twenty poems, ranked.
20 of the finest public-domain poems about dog, ranked by thematic depth. Scored by Storgy's classification model against the rest of the corpus, and re-indexed weekly as new works enter the canon.
The leading three
01
The Ballad of the Taylor Pup
Eugene Field
“A cheerful ballad in the medieval style, "The Ballad of the Taylor Pup" tells a playful story about a dog and his owner in Buena Park on an April morning. Eugen…”
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02
The Bench-Legged Fyce
Eugene Field
“This poem is a heartfelt and humorous homage to a scrappy mixed-breed dog—a "bench-legged fyce"—that the speaker fondly remembers from childhood in St. Joe, Mis…”
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03
Fitte the First
Eugene Field
“This poem features an endearing Saint Bernard puppy, full of personality and a comical appetite. Field captures the pup's noble appearance and silly charm, high…”
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The complete index
- 04
Fitte the Fourth
Eugene Field
A freshly bathed dog leaps out of his tub and dashes through the house, shaking soapy water all around, leaving his owner, Mrs. Taylor, in a state of hilarious dismay before she fi…
- 05
Fitte the Sixth
Eugene Field
A muddy puppy from the Taylor family stirs up complete chaos one afternoon in Buena Park — ruining kids' clothes, piling up laundry, and making Mr. Taylor curse at the dinner table…
- 06
Fitte the Third
Eugene Field
A woman lures her unsuspecting dog into the bathroom, gives him an unwanted bath, and then lets him go. The poem turns the entire scene into a comedic spectacle, treating the dog's…
- 07
Gottlieb
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This short poem offers a heartfelt goodbye to a cherished dog named Gottlieb, whose calm, gentle spirit brought warmth to the home — and whose absence now leaves it feeling empty.…
- 08
Fitte the Fifth
Eugene Field
A freshly bathed puppy bolts into the street, instantly creating mayhem as it splatters soap and mud on every child unfortunate enough to be around. Field plays up the scene for la…
- 09
Fitte the Second
Eugene Field
A husband and wife share a cheerful morning chat about which soap to use for their dog's bath. The husband suggests it doesn't really matter — just choose one and move on. It's a l…
- 10
Little Boy Blue
Eugene Field
A little boy tucks his toy dog and toy soldier into bed before going to sleep himself, assuring them he’ll return soon — but he never does, because he dies that night. The toys wai…
- 11
The Duel
Eugene Field
A gingham dog and a calico cat are perched on a table, where they get into such a fierce fight that they actually devour each other, leaving no trace behind. The story unfolds thro…
- 12
Against Cassius Severus
Horace
Horace confronts a critic named Cassius Severus, labeling him a coward for going after easy targets rather than facing someone who can push back. He likens himself to a fierce guar…
- 13
Auguries of Innocence
William Blake
Blake's "Auguries of Innocence" is a lengthy, aphoristic poem composed of rhyming couplets that connect small, everyday cruelties toward animals to significant cosmic outcomes. The…
- 14
The Slave in the Dismal Swamp
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A severely scarred, elderly enslaved man hides in the Great Dismal Swamp, pursued by dogs and men, while the natural world around him thrives and rejoices. Longfellow highlights th…
- 15
I started Early Took my Dog
Emily Dickinson
A woman brings her dog to the sea, only to feel the tide gradually pulling her in—like a predatory, almost flirtatious pursuer—before she makes her way back to the safety of town.…
- 16
The Delectable Ballad of the Waller Lot
Eugene Field
A little girl named Sissy Knott is playing with her doll in a park in Chicago when a group of "Injuns" suddenly shows up, kidnaps her, and breaks her doll. A gang of local boys rus…
- 17
The Open Window
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A man returns to a house where children used to live and play, but now it feels deserted — the windows are open, the dog is waiting, but there are no kids around. The silence and e…
- 18
Rabbi
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A rabbi named Ben Israel, full of bravado, boasts about his extensive knowledge of Jewish sacred texts. However, he confesses that he gets so drunk during the Purim festival that h…
- 19
Showing How He Built His House and His Wife Moved into It
James Russell Lowell
A wealthy retired businessman, A. Gordon Knott, constructs an absurd and shoddily built medieval-style house. He then attempts to marry off his daughter against her wishes, ultimat…
- 20
Translated from the Original Doric
Percy Bysshe Shelley
This is a brief but pointed political critique masquerading as a classical translation. Shelley takes aim at King George IV and Queen Caroline, suggesting that if the government fa…
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