Doggerel Poems

Swapping out the expected definition of this collection's title, Betts (Felon, 2019) considers the pet dog, a cherished, always observant member of our world. By referencing the friendly and loyal attributes of the canine, Betts explores other, more serious subjects with gratitude and wonder. In "What We Know," the everyday morning walk turns magical with his companion's response, "Those with sleep still clinging / Stumble into the street, before / Them two ears tilted toward / What the moon has said last." Not all poems involve dogs, as Betts' poems flow in an internal conversation touching on many aspects of life, including the experience of incarceration. "Daffodils," for example, presents pursued memories of past loved ones and those still present, "There is freedom in the cells I left / Behind, & you will tell me that inside / I am in my element, which means I / Shimmer, as if a man can rise from / A corpse & walk into the world." Doggerel is a triumph of surprising moments and passionate reflections.