Weighing the Dog Poetry Analysis

In the poem Weighing the Dog, the speaker uses the act of weighing his dog as a metaphor for his own break up with a past significant other. Throughout the poem, a shift in tone occurs, making the reader clear of the metaphor that is created throughout the poem. The speaker emphasizes his tone through the use of different literary devices, and makes clear the purpose of the poem.

At the beginning of the poem, the speaker describes the process of weighing his dog. He uses language such as, "awkward," (1) "bewildering," (1) and "balancing" (3) to describe the strange and uncomfortable nature of weighing the dog. Although the scene of weighing a dog has a deeper meaning than simply finding the weight of a pet, the speaker's language makes clear the uncomfortable tone at the beginning of the poem. As the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the speaker's description of weighing his dog is a metaphor for his own break up. The speaker felt uncomfortable in his relationship, which is made clear by the inclusion of detail, "all those awkward and bewildering months" (14). The physical act of weighing the dog comes before the subtraction of the speakers weight, suggesting that the opening lines of the poem represent the awkward relationship of the speaker with a significant other before a break up. In addition to describing the uncomfortable nature of weighing his dog, the speaker's awkward tone at the beginning of the poem is meant to describe the uncomfortable nature of his romantic relationship.

As the poem progresses and it becomes clear that the speaker's description of weighing his dog is a reference to a past romantic relationship, a transition in tone occurs. The speaker explains his new found clarity when he says, "I never figured out what you amounted to / until I subtracted myself from our combination" (11-12). The speaker's realization gives the poem a tone of clarity and acceptance, but the accepting tone becomes especially regretful when the speaker says, "Now we are both lost in strange and distant neighborhoods" (15). Although the speaker felt awkward in his relationship, separation allowed him to realize the worth of his significant other. His realization gave him a sense of appreciation for his old relationship, which allows the speaker to recognize the contrast between what he has now, and what he had during his relationship. It becomes clear that the speaker feels regretful for breaking up with his significant other, and that he feels even more awkward now than he did when he was in a relationship. Although the break up was caused by his awkward feelings, ending the relationship did not help because the speaker is now "lost in strange and distant neighborhoods" (15).