Choose the selection you liked best. Provide reasons why you liked this selection, then offer evidence from the text to support your reasons.

Question

At 8:15 in the morning . . .
Sad eyes watch
Eileen drive away–
Irma mourns.
Slumped against the gate,
the old dog foghorns
her sorrow
to the neighborhood.

Irma’s desolate moans
tell us what she thinks:
I'm abandoned, alone.
White-muzzled Irma howls
and howls her discontent:
My Eileen is gone, gone . . .
My friend on the phone
can hear Irma cry.
I explain what’s wrong.

At 8:30 in the morning . . .
Wait–Irma hears a car.
Her howling stops.
The old dog wriggles with joy.
I was not abandoned.
I am not alone.
My Eileen has come home!

Two to three short simple sentences

Answer 1

I liked this selection for its emotional depth and the relatable theme of companionship. The poem effectively captures the bond between Irma, the dog, and Eileen, illustrating the profound sense of abandonment that Irma feels when Eileen leaves. The vivid imagery of Irma's sorrow and joy enhances the emotional impact.

The line “My Eileen is gone, gone . . .” powerfully conveys Irma's despair, while her reaction upon hearing a car shows the joy of reunion: “I was not abandoned. I am not alone.” These contrasting emotions highlight the deep connection between the dog and her owner.