Seligman's Dog

Eyes fixed on the closing light,
Not a breath betrays this fright,
I dreamt once of safe and warm,
And felt safety from all harm,
Now I lay me down,
Like Seligman's dog.

Now locked at neck in guillotine,
The universe turns cruel and mean,
I dreamt once, the trust of love,
Felt the touch like a velvet glove,
Now I lay me down,
Like Seligman's dog.

And every tick upon the wrist,
A new ache scratched on the list,
I dreamt once of the hope of morn,
It seemed not a curse to be born,
Now I lay me down,
Like Seligman's dog.

Somewhere a fissure in the clouds,
Somewhere faith, hope, love sing loud,
My eyes closed tight to the angels,
With keys to the locks and manicles,
I need be led and freed,
Like Segligman's dog.

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Martin Seligman did experiments on dogs to demonstrate a concept called "learned helplessness" where dogs were given electric shock through the floor with no way out of the room. Eventually the dogs would lay down and whine. Then after restoring a way out, the dog would still not chose escape. The dog would have to be led out of the painful circumstance by hand. It seems to me it is a fit analogy for some of life's experiences and conditioning.