Take Joy in Old Dogs

TAKE JOY IN OLD DOGS
by Donna Swajeski

Take joy in old dogs. Their joys are simple. A soft bed. A scrap fallen from the table. The memory of a treed squirrel. A stormless night.

White whiskered faces and legs crooked as question marks.

Old Dogs - their sweet Buddha bellies hang over crossed legs as they fall asleep in a coveted patch of sun. Dreaming of out-racing their shadows down long, shady lanes.

Once they danced by your side. The very definition of joy unleashed. A perfect poem caught in shining eyes and wagging tails. They have followed you faithfully for years. And would plunge into fires, untamed wildernesses, raging waters if you asked.

Now, they struggle to catch up. Their pace slow but their hearts still valiant.
Their cloudy eyes are starting to dim and go distant, tuning in to some invisible world. Just beyond your reach.

Dont go you say, as you scratch the tender part between their ears. Stay longer. I cant imagine a world without your fur pressed close to my cheek. There are still so many roads we havent explored.

And they look up at you with a wisdom that just slays you.

Their backs are bent, not from the weight of years, but from the invisible wings they are growing
That will soon take them to a place where once more they are warriors of speed
Drunk with the sights and scents of a thousand meadows.
Able to leap high enough to touch the wing of the tiniest butterfly.

A place where they will now wait for you to catch up.

Oh my, after reading the Poem, the screen is blurry. We have two six year old 'babies and it sure touched a soft spot!

Loved the LO, so gentle! I began to write something else, then saw the Poem and I saw it in a totally different way. The frame is beautiful and the smudge adds a very nice touch.

Beautiful page about your dog (love those clusters). Pets are so special, the sentiment you expressed is just how I feel about our eight year old lab.

I love your flower cluster work and the blending you used on the photo

Thanks so much ladies. I can't take too much credit for the clustering. Part of it was already on the page starter (the bits under the frame). I just added the gold poinsettias, a few flowers, the watch, hearts, ribbons, word art and a few other doo-dads to it. I mainly posted this to share the poem. Merry Christmas everyone.

What a wonderful poem, I love the photo mask in the frame, beautiful LO

oh dear me i am melancholy this Christmas as it is..and then i read this....such bittersweetness memories of my very loved animals, now gone...thank you for sharing this...i love seeing Dillon's lo's..despite all of his antics(sometimess destructive..lol) one can tell he is very loved

Thank you ladies. Lydia, I'm sorry you're melancholy this year. Dillon actually hasn't destroyed anything since he was about a year old, but you're right, he is VERY much loved. Hugs to you.

what an amazing poem. thank you for sharing it. it reminds me of many pets we lost over the years. but i am reassured that they a resting in a better place. cute baby and very pretty layout too!

Beautiful photo of Dillon! This is such a gorgeous page. The softness of the photo is perfect for the journal/quote. The cluster work is spot on! Terrific job!