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Thomas wrote the poem about his father giving up. He had a rocky relationship with this austere schoolmaster of English, who must have despaired of his wild child. Thomas himself gave up very quickly, an alcoholic and a narcissist. Maybe the poem is about a self-warning that he too was weak. Have you read his Fern Hill? It is crazy with nostalgic memory and a sense of forbidding.

I have no dog info on the Welsh poet. But thoroughly enjoyed your lovely canine story and musings. My best part? You never mentioned the expense once.

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Good points Terry! And thank you!

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Dogs are the best. Children vex you while dogs just love. (Not a knock on kids, I have two.) We are dogless right now, having put down our old Rottweiler who had an incurable spinal condition. It’s tough. We will get a new puppy soon and life will start again.

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Sorry for your loss Steve!

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