“through the act of living, the discovery of oneself is made concurrently with the discovery of the world around us. . ."

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A Tribute to Carson






I reproduce below what Tom Junod, a FB friend of mine has written on his Facebook page. Nothing more can be said about the relationship between a man and his dog. I am reminded of the several posts I have written on dogs; and also the poem, by Pablo Neruda on the death of his dog. The poem can be found somewhere in my blog. 

Give your dog a hug, and thank him/her for all the love he/she has given you; and for giving you the ability to love back. 




"We did not give our dog Carson his name. He was two and a half years old when we got him, and he'd already left behind life as a "bait dog" in a fighting ring south of Atlanta and a subsequent year and a half of rehab and rescue. We got him with broken teeth, small scars on his face and big scars on his neck, and a ten-inch burn down his back. To the end of his days a few people crossed the street to avoid him, but anyone with half a heart and eyes to see knew that he was the gentlest of souls. We had him for 11 years, and in that time he hurt nobody, and gave us nothing but happiness. He died 630 this morning, from the complications of a tumor in his belly we knew nothing about, and to his last breath I was -- and will remain -- astonished by his simple goodness. I hope that we healed some of his scars. I know he healed some of mine."


https://www.facebook.com/tom.junod.1?sk=photos

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Do Not Pluck Flowers



Do not pluck flowers, please
Do not walk on the grass.
Do not cut the trees, please
Do not set  forests on fire.

Flowers have a purpose, Lord
Flowers have to blossom,
Flowers have to spread fragrance,
Flowers have to bear fruits.

You would remember us
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Before you, before the lighted lamps
The flickering flames casting shadows
On your impassive face.

Shadows fall on our faces, Lord
Shadows of doubts, of disbelief
Suspicion rise, like a snake's tongue
Our minds flick, sense
Your presence, our enemy.

You are our enemy, Lord,
You are the enemy of life.
We are not of your image
Nor are we your creations.

Faith, you made us have
Faith in you.
Trust, you tricked us to have
Trust in you.
Love, oh, we never knew,
We squandered on one that never was.

Born, we were, of the seeds
Blown in by the winds of time.
Blighted, we would be and
Blown out, into oblivion.

But let us be, let us
Bask in the sun, let us
Be drenched in the rain.
Let us smell the earth
Let us find joy in living
And let us fade and fall
Like flowers, at dusk.


Do not pluck flowers, Lord
Do not stamp on the grass.
Let the flowers laugh
Let the grass dance
Let birds perch on the trees
Let life bloom, let rivers flow.

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P S: I am anguished at the loss of young lives – and devastated to realize that there is no 'meaning' to life...