Yesterday I learned of a famous poet (for the first time🤔), Charles Simic, who had died Monday. He was our “Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress” and had won a Nobel Prize for his writing. His last book, published 2022 and titled “No Land In Sight” ended with a very short poem.
Thanks for your Mary Oliver teaser! I quickly examined a series of quotes from her Dog Book and learned she favored unleashed dogs. My pooch, Izzie, stands in full agreement. I like how Mary views both us and our dogs as needing a link with our ancient origins, wherein we share a past.
Ugh! I cringed when I read her line about unleashed dogs. As you might have heard… Henny has long been a flight risk. I’ve been playing fetch with her in the yard recently… 25 foot cord attached. She’s been pretty good.
Izzie is more like sentient beings that drop off library books before opening time🤔. She studies (while out on walks) how preoccupied I seem. Talking with neighbors is a fav. One minute she’s beside me, the next? Vanished! Once into an adjacent neighborhood!
So I’ve become extra vigilant. Reading her stance when she is inclined to go “introduce” herself to neighbors... Noticing her gaze when something attracts her, inclining her to bolt. And I keep a running conversation with her to mostly hold her attention. I should have gotten a wolf for that really way back relationship!
Hahaha! Izzie and I would be great pals! I’d let her be a front seat dog for the clandestine drop offs! 😃
I often think Henny has more wild than tame in her, although she’s really becoming more and more interested in being part of the family. Last night she really seemed to enjoy a good neck rub. In early days, she did not tolerate much touching.
Long ago I read something in which the writer asked how we know what’s behind our dog’s eyes. Izzie makes and sustains eye contact... unless she knows she misbehaved. As our dogs mature, how can we tell if the result is “becoming their true, adult selves” or merely their acceptance of domestication?
First… Henny still avoids eye contact —although I feel there have been instances where we’ve truly seen each other. Truth be told, I could work harder at the relationship.
Second… I keep getting ads on Instagram about a program to build trust with your animal. (Haha! How do they know?)
With Mara, the trust and love was immediate and sustained… That’s why Henny came as such a shock to me! The story I tell myself is that she’s here to teach me as much as I’m here to teach her. We’re sorting out our growth together with patience.
I don’t know how we can tell, but I suspect that patience and love build a better relationship than fear and domination.
I appreciate Nia’s brevity of her evaluation of napkin rings, removable wall paper, and pumpkin-toffee treats! Don’t mince words!
We like to keep things short and to the point here at 3mm.
Finding same with book 4. Novelists we are not!
If you need any assistance with tome creation, let me know or simply review some of my 3mm replies... 😂🤣😂
I tend toward tomes, too. 🙃
Yesterday I learned of a famous poet (for the first time🤔), Charles Simic, who had died Monday. He was our “Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress” and had won a Nobel Prize for his writing. His last book, published 2022 and titled “No Land In Sight” ended with a very short poem.
The Wind Has Died
My little boat,
Take care.
There is no
Land in sight.
I found those eleven words quite moving.
Thank you for sharing. Moving... yes.
I checked out a book of Mary Oliver dog poems from the library yesterday. Talk about minimizing words!
Good news! I got away with my 'early morning/before the library opened' book drop off a few weeks ago. No fines on my account! 😂
Thanks for your Mary Oliver teaser! I quickly examined a series of quotes from her Dog Book and learned she favored unleashed dogs. My pooch, Izzie, stands in full agreement. I like how Mary views both us and our dogs as needing a link with our ancient origins, wherein we share a past.
Ugh! I cringed when I read her line about unleashed dogs. As you might have heard… Henny has long been a flight risk. I’ve been playing fetch with her in the yard recently… 25 foot cord attached. She’s been pretty good.
Izzie is more like sentient beings that drop off library books before opening time🤔. She studies (while out on walks) how preoccupied I seem. Talking with neighbors is a fav. One minute she’s beside me, the next? Vanished! Once into an adjacent neighborhood!
So I’ve become extra vigilant. Reading her stance when she is inclined to go “introduce” herself to neighbors... Noticing her gaze when something attracts her, inclining her to bolt. And I keep a running conversation with her to mostly hold her attention. I should have gotten a wolf for that really way back relationship!
Hahaha! Izzie and I would be great pals! I’d let her be a front seat dog for the clandestine drop offs! 😃
I often think Henny has more wild than tame in her, although she’s really becoming more and more interested in being part of the family. Last night she really seemed to enjoy a good neck rub. In early days, she did not tolerate much touching.
Long ago I read something in which the writer asked how we know what’s behind our dog’s eyes. Izzie makes and sustains eye contact... unless she knows she misbehaved. As our dogs mature, how can we tell if the result is “becoming their true, adult selves” or merely their acceptance of domestication?
Love your question!
First… Henny still avoids eye contact —although I feel there have been instances where we’ve truly seen each other. Truth be told, I could work harder at the relationship.
Second… I keep getting ads on Instagram about a program to build trust with your animal. (Haha! How do they know?)
With Mara, the trust and love was immediate and sustained… That’s why Henny came as such a shock to me! The story I tell myself is that she’s here to teach me as much as I’m here to teach her. We’re sorting out our growth together with patience.
I don’t know how we can tell, but I suspect that patience and love build a better relationship than fear and domination.
If someone audio taped my walks with Izzie, they’d call me “The Dog Docent.” 😉
Like a thief in the night! 🦊