220217 beingness and dog licks

 Feb. 17

today i

began to lick his face

suddenly on another level

being to being sans species

does he not read me like a human would?

and understand my language?

just as i already know what he is saying

with voice and face and body clear as words

"when did you leave heaven?" laugh out loud for him

 it was the year indre was born and he

lived the years with someone here and grew up here before i

even came to this country

almost as if he will live two lives 

in his life (perhaps we all live more)

this one with me on the hill yes

these same hills where he has always lived and learned

all there was to know so he could

come to my side and give his love and lick my face

ancestral sleek and perfect

in the mornings we walk up the camp road

snowbanks and black naked trees on either side

released he trots ahead 

scouting and stops at the crest to look back 

return or dash on

and waits at the turn for me

the sort of dog who likes the role of friend

we are each the other's companion 

up the hill

I am in awe of this wonderful dog who has fallen into our lives. He seems content and settled. He has favorite places to hang out: by my chair on his red-and-black woolen blanket, by K when I am busy about the house, by the fireplace when he's sleepy in the evening. By then he doesn't leap up to join me if I head for the door, just watches to see if I will call him; he would just as soon stay and snooze while I go out to see the night. He likes his bed beside mine, but I think he goes and sleeps on the couch while I'm asleep. The strange thing is he never leaves a single hair!

*****

Tonight, baked beans with spinach 

and corn biscuits.

We are eating well; I am back on my feet and in the kitchen, now, doing much more cooking, more whole foods, less processed. We are both better for it, I'm sure. Rocky has "taken charge" of my exercise regimen. We are out the door after my first coffee, for our main walk of the day, down to the farm or up the mountain on the camp road. We can't go anywhere farther afield without snowshoes. Dog and snowshoes is the next pay-grade up for me, I'm afraid!

Thank you for visiting. Be well. 

Mumma Yaga

Looking east from the top of the meadow.

* Walter Bullock and Richard A. Whiting, "When Did You Leave Heaven", covered here by Bob Dylan: https://youtu.be/tx-VKIvQpDs

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