and the surroundings are teeming with vegetation; a "fierce and mortal green," (line 15). The dog's body was no longer covered with "intolerable" flies, instead with a "hymn of flies," a much more energetic image. In line 16, the speaker also adds that he saw the dog emerging. Although the scene may seem very vivacious, the dog is not literally coming back to life, as it is only a nightmare. There is still a look of death growing in his eyes, as lively as they may appear; "death was breeding in his lively eyes," (line 19). This critical image expresses the point that life and death are one, they come hand in hand. The dog was once alive, but took the next step into death. He now comes back into the world to express this importance to the narrator.The boy was once afraid when his dog died. Now a man, despite having lived a life without love, he is scared again as he has this dream and is brought face to face with his dog. "I started in to cry and call his name," (line 20). He is frightened because he is finally dealing with exactly what caused him to live his life in the painful manner that he did. Imagine experiencing what the narrator has. Seeing a lost loved one emerge from their grave, right before your very eyes, "glowing with a fierce and mortal green," (line 15). The "carnal sun" (line 18) and the breeding of death in the dog's eyes in line 19 assist in producing a horrific feeling once again. This scene of a reincarnated dog helps him make sense of the relationship between life and death, instead of just putting it behind him or burying it within himself. Death is not a punishment, nor is it meant to hurt. Of course, to an innocent and impressionable ten year old, it is very horrific and painful. As it is seen in this case, death can also be scarring. In reality, though, it is only the next step of life, and while we may dwell on it, we should not do so to the point of losing the ability to feel for those we hav...
