
ENLARGE
Aspen's Dog Poo Poetry Competition puts the focus on picking up after man's best friend.
Aspen Times photo
ASPEN — The winners of Aspen’s first-ever Dog Poo Poetry Competition have been chosen.
The contest of rhymes, limericks and haikus were inspired by the town’s No. 1 summer complaint — dog poop littering the parks, open space and city sidewalks.
“We wanted to advertise the importance of picking up after your dog in a fun and creative way,” explained city parks ranger Brian Long in a press release detailing the winning efforts. “We were amazed at the results. We had tons of poetry submissions, with some from as far as Seattle.”
The winners will receive gift certificates to local retailers of their choice.
All of the entries will be posted on
www.aspenrecreation.com under “Parks, Trails and Open Space” and “Parks Department News,” according to the city.
And the winners are…
First place — a limerick by Mark Thomas
A Poodle-Park Pooper named Faucet
Drew a firm line, and refused to cross it.
“Can’t you see, man - I’m squattin
And I know it smells rotten.
But it’s your job to bag it and toss it.”
Second Place — a short poem by Joan Kover
Hey this is right up my alley!
I’m sick and tired of all the dog poop all over the valley.
Came home from School expecting a hug
Yelled at instead for stinky poop on rug!
My mom made me clean it up
Wish owners would clean up after their pups.
Now when I go to the park each day
I check out the grass before I play.
Third place — a “poop epic” by Hilary Rymal
Aspen, Colorado is a beautiful place
You know all your neighbors and everyone’s face
You can ski in the winter and raft in the sun
Dancing at Chelsea’s is always good fun
There is one thing though, that is quite absurd
You’ll be strolling along and step on a turd!
Someone’s dog has crapped in the street
And now, lucky you, it’s all over your feet
You would much rather see two dogs hump
But no, you're the winner who steps in their dump
Their owners are punks who can't even bend over
To pick up the waste from their own dog Rover
You’ll be in Wagner Park and you’ll spot some poo
But it’s one step too late for your new Jimmy Choo
You decide to go home to just take a nap
But on your way there you run in to more crap
You sprint to your car, dodging a hot steamer
If you had slipped on that one you’d have busted your femur!
You'’re frantic to get home without spotting another pile
Unfortunately you can't even make it one mile
You finally get home and walk up your stoop
And lo and behold what do you find? More poop!
You’re guilty too, of not cleaning up
After your dog, he’s only a pup
Let’s all do our part to pick up the poo
To keep it in the trash, and off of our shoes!
The winning haiku — by Malcolm McMichael
Failing to scoop poop
Pretending you don’t notice
You know who you are
Second-place haiku — by Keegan and Hailey Swirbul
(Written from their 3-year-old black Lab’s perspective)
FROZEN POOP-SICLES
Frozen poop-sicles,
Crunchy, tasty, winter treat.
Leave it! Can’t be beat.
Top pick among limericks — by Isabella Courtenay-Morris
There once was a dog named “Daisy”
Whose owner was extremely lazy
When “Daisy” would poop
They refused to scoop
Aspen’s poop problem is gettin’ too crazy!!
Second-place limerick — by Ethel Gofen
There once was a preacher named Chuck
Who stepped in dog poop and got stuck.
It clung to his shoe
Just like super-glue
And all he could say was, “Good Lord.”