I Love Dogs

Double the fun---so happy!!

Yes, I'm obsessed with my own, but I also really believe that dogs (and pets in general) can do some seriously amazing things.  I don't mean jump through flaming hoops or learn a choreographed dance routine wearing a spangled jacket (this has happened) but I mean unify humans, ease pain, and enrich lives in ways that really make a difference. 

Walking down the street with Merwin brings more random smiles and "awwws" that I can recollect.  After a long day, seeing his nose squishing under the door in anticipation of my arrival alters my mood no matter what transpired at work.

Dogs are capable of bringing real happiness where maybe there is none.  They drive people to care and to smile a little, if even for just a minute.

Not Quite November...

The leaves are only starting to fall, but with a chilly breeze outside, I'm in the mood for this one.

November Night
Adelaide Crapsey

Listen...
With faint dry sound
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost crisp'd, break from the trees
And fall.

Dogpig? Pigdog?

I see the resemblance

I was away "on business" Tuesday night through late last night and when I returned home, Merwin went crazy.  He ran laps around our apartment squealing like a pig for at least 10 minutes nonstop.  It was like he was so excited he couldn't stay still long enough for me to even pet him.  And the noise was ridiculous.  It was nice to see some real enthusiasm for my return--Simon certainly didn't squeal.

Opening Day for the Rangers!

After an agonizing summer of hockeyless nights, the day is finally here.  The Rangers open their season today versus the L.A. Kings in an early season game to take place in Stockholm, Sweden.  Don't ask me why they start there, but their international opener brings back some memories.  Three years ago, they began their season in Prague on our wedding day.  They won, which is good, because if they lost I'm not sure I could've gone through with it.  I kid, but three cheers for some hockey!  Oh yeah, and some baseball...go Cardinals!

Wedding day prep

Poetry Who?

I call myself a poetry lover, but despite that, I was unaware that today was National Poetry Day until a friend clued me in.  How pathetic of me!  Thank goodness she saved the day.  I do have to poke fun of her a bit, because according to my 1.3 minutes of google research, it is only National Poetry Day in the UK.  Regardless, any excuse to celebrate poetry works for me.

It's hard to come across any of his poems that I don't like, but this Merwin poem stands out. 


When You Go Away
W.S. Merwin

When you go away the wind clicks around to the north
The painters work all day but at sundown the paint falls
Showing the black walls
The clock goes back to striking the same hour
That has no place in the years

And at night wrapped in the bed of ashes
In one breath I wake
It is the time when the beards of the dead get their growth
I remember that I am falling
That I am the reason
And that my words are the garment of what I shall never be
Like the tucked sleeve of a one-armed boy


The images of painters working only to have the paint slip from the walls and the clock striking the same timeless hour seem to be the perfect way to demonstrate a feeling of loss that is never ending.  Loss that has no place in time and that time doesn't heal.  And the final image is haunting and perfect.  He does it again.

A Revival of Sorts

Pablo Neruda originally composed this poem in Spanish, his native language, and I'm sure much is lost in translation, but the last two stanzas are pretty remarkable, even in their English version.  I would try to provide some interpretation, but I think the poem explains itself (aside from the salt-rose, topaz and carnation arrows of fire...I'm a bit lost there).  But for today, of all days, I will savor it.

Love Sonnet XVII 

Pablo Neruda

(Source of Translation Unknown)

I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz

or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:

I love you as certain dark things are loved,

secretly, between the shadows and the souls.

I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries

hidden within itself the light of those flowers,

and thanks to your love, darkly in my body

lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.

I love you simply, without problems or pride:

I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving

But this, in which there is no I or you,

so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,

so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.

Monday Interlude

Take a break and take a look...

Weekend Guests

Merwin was in seventh heaven yesterday.  Simon's mom stopped by on her way back from a week long trip and we watched our friends' Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jethro.  Double whammy!  Of all the dogs Merwin has interacted with, Jet seems to be his favorite.  Unlike the others, Jet isn't interested, which is funny since Merwin is usually running from dogs trying to play with him.  Funny to see such a role reversal!

Cute little Jet

Merwin stalks him

Kiss?

Awwww