Menagerie

The mirror
On the wall
Shows one view
The mirror
In the pond
Shows a slightly distorted view
The mirror
In your eyes
Unveils the soul of you

Blog Continued After the Image

Starbuck - who left us in 2004

You can see in his beautiful eyes, the love, the kindness, the soul of Starbuck.  The poem above was written in 1979... way before Starbuck came my way.  Written before Nikodemus, Tiggerbell, Starbuck, Skye, Molly... before "my babies".  

My family have always been dog-folk... I grew up loving and seeing the souls of these beauties and, in a way, by being cared for by them.

To me, the poem Menagerie, speaks to what you see in a dog's eyes.  At the time I meant it to mean what people could see in my eyes because there were times it felt my soul was laid bare for all to see, criticize, mold and possess.  That is until my babies came to me then I found myself thinking that it fits all of the dogs I've had in my life.  From my Grandpa's Ching, Prince, Lady, and through all my Mum's dogs Tigger, Bear etc. (18 so far) to my crew, I believe we are influenced, and cared for by our animals.  

Our pets - whether you have a cat, ferret, bunny, bird, snake, horse, whatever.  Their souls connect to us and I think influence us for the better.  We've all seen the people who are bad to their core and are brutal to animals and to humans.  To me, their souls are beyond help.  Look at the prisoners who are in the program to raise, train and give away dogs to PTSD soldiers in the US - their hearts grow, their minds open and they become better humans.  The animals save them.

Just like my boy Nikodemus.  I saved him from the Toronto Humane Society - the day before the end - he saved me multiple times during a period of extreme darkness.  I refused to give Nikodemus up to enter a shelter because they wouldn't take dogs and no matter how many times I tried to re-home him, he ended up coming back to me.  We were meant to be together and I am being honest when I say he really did save my life.  Literally.  

All of the dogs in my life are woven into my soul.  All those that have crossed the rainbow bridge are waiting for me... and for all the pets that will come along before I get there.  I don't mean to be "new-agey" or go all mystical on you, but I do believe that our essence, soul, and eventually our energy goes back to the universe to start all over again.  Of the many things I do doubt in this world - this isn't one of them.  Ok, so maybe it is a little new-agey.  :-)

Excuse me now while I go hug my furry girls... their love is unconditional (treats not withstanding) - and my soul is enriched.  You go hug your beauties too and thank them.