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Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony
Aug 18, 2025 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Siren Song

Our neighbor's dogs begin to howl
when they hear sirens in the distance.

It's a mournful sound they share,
as if they are reaching out in empathy

for the souls whose lives are changing
in the back of sterile ambulances.

All I can offer are my thoughts to their lament,
but I feel as if I understand their song.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: San Francisco Bay Area - USA, USA

Favorite Poets: Bukowski, Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, Haiku & Harvey Kurtzman (a visual poet, of sorts)

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Comments

Lavender

Lavender

1 month 1 week ago

Siren Song

Hello, Micheal,

I can clearly hear the sounds of both the ambulance and the dogs.  I wonder - did you choose "souls" and "sterile" intentionally?  They give "mournful" and "empathy" much deeper meaning.

Thank you!

L

Michael Anthony

Michael Anthony

1 month 1 week ago

Thanks for the visit L! Yes,…

Thanks for the visit L! Yes, the choice of those words was very intentional. Very perceptive of you to note their enhancement of mournful and empathy - thank you!

Geezer

Geezer

1 month 1 week ago

Great stuff...

funny how dogs seem to react to sirens; I guess sirens play to their hereditary pack selves, and they instinctively howl to keep that contact with it. The best lines: 

"It's a mournful sound they share,
as if they are reaching out in empathy".  ~Geez.

.