Monday, December 31, 2012

Intently haphazard

All of my posts over the last year have been my writing. But, I would like to end the year with a poem by Denise Levertov which has given me my motto for the year ahead. Best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Overland to the Islands

Let's go—much as that dog goes,
intently haphazard. The
Mexican light on a day that
'smells like autumn in Connecticut'
makes iris ripples on his
black gleaming fur—and that too
is as one would desire—a radiance
consorting with the dance.
                       Under his feet
rocks and mud, his imagination, sniffing,
engaged in its perceptions—dancing
edgeways, there's nothing
the dog disdains on his way,
nevertheless he
keeps moving, changing
pace and approach but
not direction—'every step an arrival.'

by Denise Levertov
from Overland to the Islands
publisher: Jonathan Williams, 1958

Frank and Zeke are dogs that I loved and are no longer dancing edgeways in this reality.




3 comments:

  1. Oh, my. Brought a tear. Thanks for the reminder of our boys. A great motto indeed.

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  2. Keep moving, Duff, changing only pace and approach - I'll try, too. I like the idea of "every step an arrival." Your dear Golden reminds me of our departed Breezy - a dog who still lives in my heart. Keep the stones rolling Duff - into the New Year.

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  3. loved seeing your fourfooted friends, and especially like the poem - with your motto!

    a great start!

    happy new years - and many of them!

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