Photo Challenge & Poem: (bitter)Sweet

Volcanic walls hedge the black-silver sand all
the way to the sea’s edge. Waves clap the shore,
misty clouds rising to an undefined horizon.
The tide pushes cool water back up the small

creeks where preening birds ignore the off-beat
rhythm of paws pounding sand. Dogs own this
damp land of sticks and seaweed. Galloping with
soggy exuberance, they greet each other,

bodies eloquent with tail swagger and head angle.
A stiff-legged terrier trots to a diverse trio of
amiable mutts. The chocolate lab climbs out of
a pool, shakes, and pushes his head into a

stranger’s hand. A senior with spots wears his ears
like a button-down collar. As I turn back toward
the car lot, her memory catches pace with me, then
dashes out ahead. Indelible, my black-silver girl.


….
Anna Blake at Infinity Farm
Horse Advocate, Author, Speaker, Equine Pro
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Sweet

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Anna Blake

0 thoughts on “Photo Challenge & Poem: (bitter)Sweet”

  1. So wonderfully descriptive. You placed me right on that beach, watching the dogs and thinking how much our three would enjoy time there. I love your analogy: “A senior with spots wears his ears like a button-down collar”. You have a special way of pulling us all in with your words.

    Reply
  2. Bittersweet indeed. Your girl and mine came back for a few moments in your words. My Katira was taken by a hyena last year – perils of working and living in the wilds. Thirteen joyful, adventurous years, as good as any dog’s life could be. And her death was so quick, she did not even call out. Spared the indignity of frail old age, or so I comfort myself. Thank you Anna

    Reply
    • Spared the indignities that my girl was not… so I think it isn’t the worst thing to have a long life and go by nature. Sorry for your loss, Maggie, but happy for your years together.

      Reply

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