Craig Pugh is The Writing Dog
Double Leo. Vegetarian. Peace advocate. Astrologer. Astronomer. Literary omnivore. Poet. Screenwriter. Short stories. Dreamer. Coffee connoisseur. Reformer. Animal lover. Striving spirit. Raging angel. Grandfather. Military brat. Air Force veteran. Teacher. Editor. Author. Insomniac. Driven. 100 mph guy in a 50 mph world.
Poet Craig Pugh invites readers into a world where coffee brews with character, cats embody both mystery and mischief, and marriage endures with humor and heart in his latest book, "A Pocketful of Poems".
---- from reviewers at Archway Publishing
the books
A Pocketful of Poems
Like coffee and cats? How about love in all its messy glory? Plenty of that in these poems, plus poems about poems and the frustration of writing. Notable for their emotional range, mirth and intensity.
Ganja Tales - 2nd Ed. Revised
These original old Omaha stories published in 2000 remain the only 420 literary short-story fiction you can find anywhere. Three new stories were added for this 2nd edition.
Poems for Pickin'
A Grandma Moses-type cover and cover poem harken to the idyllic days on the prairie circa 1890, then transition to poems on Ukraine, Putin, MAGA and January 6. These poems are relevant and contemporary, and range from tragic to absurd and comedic to cosmic.
the books
A Pocketful of Poems
Like coffee and cats? How about love in all its messy glory? Plenty of that in these poems, plus poems about poems and the frustration of writing. Notable for their emotional range, mirth and intensity.
Ganja Tales - 2nd Ed. Revised
These original old Omaha stories published in 2000 remain the only 420 literary short-story fiction you can find anywhere. Three new stories were added for this 2nd edition.
Poems for Pickin'
A Grandma Moses-type cover and cover poem harken to the idyllic days on the prairie circa 1890, then transition to poems on Ukraine, Putin, MAGA and January 6. These poems are relevant and contemporary, and range from tragic to absurd and comedic to cosmic.
Don’t you think AI art really helps illustrate my poetry? Check out this excerpt from 'I Got A Deal For You.' It's in my first volume 'A Pocketful of Poems'.
We both know life’s a game of chance with
winners and losers, and we’re a pair of dice
thrown by drunken gods playing the odds.
We hit the table hoping for snake eyes
and bust out when the toss turns otherwise.
We’re survivors, then, you and I who try
and keep our faces to the sun. Clutching faith
and what’s left of broken hearts and loves
we hold on, praying for moments of grace.
I Got A Deal For You
I know you got hurt through and through
and someone deeply wounded you. I get it.
You’re defensive, lash out and act mad.
I understand. I’ve had anger, too. Still do.
But since I’m not the one who cut you and
I’ve been cut too, how about this? If you
don’t bleed on me, I won’t bleed on you.
Blood’s best kept inside us where it does
bodies most good. It only spouts and makes
a mess, causing problems when it leaks out.
We both know life’s a game of chance with
winners and losers, and we’re a pair of dice
thrown by drunken gods playing the odds.
We hit the table hoping for snake eyes
and bust out when the toss turns otherwise.
We’re survivors, then, you and I who try
and keep our faces to the sun. Clutching faith
and what’s left of broken hearts and loves
we hold on, praying for moments of grace.
Obviously we both need rest and healing.
And since I’m the one in front of you maybe
you can rest with me and I can rest with you.
But first, how about if we make this for a deal?
If you don’t bleed on me, I won’t bleed on you.
War Dogs
-By Craig Pugh
The war dogs are howling for meat.
More bodies are what they want to eat.
They stay very well fed indeed because
they’re always feasting on our dead.
You can see all the graves in a row.
So many exist, yet more always grow.
And of course we all know the reason
they died was the war dogs had to eat.
So come all you mothers and come
all you fathers. Give us your sons and
give us your daughters because the
war dogs are hungry for meat. See how
they demand to be fed; to turn us living
into the dead. It’s madness to live like
this, but they’ve got nothing else instead.
It’s always the same story about honor
and glory with those who start the war.
And all along their only motive was profit:
to make the stock market soar. That’s why
they clamor for more children for slaughter.
Do you hear the war dogs howling, then,
down in the fires of Hell and the domain
of the dead? They want more children.
It’s flesh by the pound they desire.
They’re demanding to be fed now.
War Dogs
-By Craig Pugh
The war dogs are howling for meat.
More bodies are what they want to eat.
They stay very well fed indeed because
they’re always feasting on our dead.
You can see all the graves in a row.
So many exist, yet more always grow.
And of course we all know the reason
they died was the war dogs had to eat.
So come all you mothers and come
all you fathers. Give us your sons and
give us your daughters because the
war dogs are hungry for meat. See how
they demand to be fed; to turn us living
into the dead. It’s madness to live like
this, but they’ve got nothing else instead.
It’s always the same story about honor
and glory with those who start the war.
And all along their only motive was profit:
to make the stock market soar. That’s why
they clamor for more children for slaughter.
Do you hear the war dogs howling, then,
down in the fires of Hell and the domain
of the dead? They want more children.
It’s flesh by the pound they desire.
They’re demanding to be fed now.
