Reub's journey

15 August 2013

At the pound

There was a cacophonous racket of howls and barks all around us as we shared a soulful, utterly silent moment, this girl and I.


Dog in Bed
Nose tucked under tail,
you are a warm, furred planet
centered in my bed.
All night I orbit, tangle-limbed,
in the slim space
allotted to me.
If I accidentally
bump you from sleep,
you shift, groan,
drape your chin on my hip.
O, that languid, movie-star drape!
I can never resist it.
Digging my fingers into your fur,
kneading,
………I wonder:
How do you dream?
What do you adore?
Why should your black silk ears
feel like happiness?
This is how it is with love.
Once invited,
it steps in gently,
circles twice,
and takes up as much space
as you will give it.

 --by Joyce Sidman, from her book of poetry for young readers Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, illustrated by Rick Allen

18 comments:

  1. When I got Emma the wonder cat from the pound, the staff literally lined up to say good bye to her. Still, she states that the food is better in chez laoch.

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    1. Laoch, I believe that Emma was very lucky to have you walk in the door that fateful day at the pound. Secretly she thanks her lucky stars every time you open a new can of Fancy Feast. :)

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  2. oh, that most beautiful hound. i wish she could live here...

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    1. She is a temptation isn't she? Her card stated that she hadn't barked or howled once since arrival, but warned that she could still "be musical." And that she loves other dogs. Your ranch would be perfect:)

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  3. Awww what a face. Did she leave with you?

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    1. Hilary, I was at the shelter to drop off some donations, and like I always do, circled through the kennels. She did not leave with me:( I would have to have rocks in my head to take on a hound dog, plus we already have our 2 big boys plus our daughter's dog, not to mention 2 cats. The neighbors wonder if I'm a hoarder.

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  4. I love that cute face :) what a beautiful hound. I hope she found a good home.

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    1. My sense of this dog was that she was a good one. But she had been turned in with another hound, red and black,and they were hoping (although not insisting) someone would take them both. I hope both of them find a good home.

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  5. Oh! you didn't bring her home? Now she looks even sadder!

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    1. I know I know I know I know I know I know I know! :-(

      Pauline, where do you live again? I think you're out-of-reach, or I would be bringing you a very sweet Treeing Walker Coonhound in the morning.

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  6. I rescued my kitty from a cage at the Humane Society and she was so tiny...and now she is a mammoth sized Maine Coone Cat, HUGE kitty. She didn't stop growing for like three years. But she still thinks she's small, so she likes to sleep right in the middle of my bed. Where my legs go. So then I kind of sleep with them awkardly hanging off the bed...

    Because we can't possibly just push our pets out of the bed! We all know who's the boss in our families...

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    1. Haha! Maine Coon Cats are giant felines & could take up a large swath of the bed. It's so nice of you to share! King-sized bed anyone?

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  7. It is always so sad to visit and leave them behind. But I always think at least I gave them a little bit of myself that day, a little love and attention until they are adopted.

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    1. That's the way to look at it. We can't adopt them all, can we?

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  8. There is never a more loyal pet than an adopted one.

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    1. Yes. She was begging to be my loyal buddy. Somebody needs to take her home soon.

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  9. Oh, I hope someone has already adopted her. What a precious face!

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