On the Loose
Wild storm dogs
Have been set free
To rampage over
Land and sea.
Chasing the clouds
As the wind howls by,
Paw prints glowing
Like stars in the sky.
Sharp claws clattering
On high ice trails,
Dodging the rain
With a swish of their tails.
All night long
They growl and bark,
Strong jaws snapping
At shapes in the dark.
All night long
They leap and run,
Racing the moon
Til morning comes.
Then, with drooping ears
And dragging feet,
They crawl back into
Their cages to sleep.
Have been set free
To rampage over
Land and sea.
Chasing the clouds
As the wind howls by,
Paw prints glowing
Like stars in the sky.
Sharp claws clattering
On high ice trails,
Dodging the rain
With a swish of their tails.
All night long
They growl and bark,
Strong jaws snapping
At shapes in the dark.
All night long
They leap and run,
Racing the moon
Til morning comes.
Then, with drooping ears
And dragging feet,
They crawl back into
Their cages to sleep.
This poem is copyright (©) Philippa Werry 2025
About the Writer
Philippa Werry
Philippa writes fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays for children and young adults. Her verse novel ‘Iris and me’ won the young adult category of the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2023 and was named in the IBBY Honour List in 2024. Her children’s poems have been published in anthologies, magazines and poetry websites in New Zealand, Australia and USA. She lives in Aotearoa New Zealand.
