By Joseph Friedah
One memorable
experience that I recall is when I once took Barnie for a ride and then
for a walk in the woods. Barnie, by the way, is my dog. He is an English
springer spaniel. I picked up Barnies collar for which I would put on him
when I got to my destination where I was going to take him for a walk in
the woods.
"Barnie! Do
you want to go for a ride", I said, aiming my words toward Barnie. He instantly
jumped up from his lazy slumber and ran about wildly in anticipation of
one of his favorite activities. I opened the door, he dashed outside and
ran towards my car. I opened the door and he jumped up onto the drivers
seat and leaped over onto the back seat. I got in the car, shut the door
and took off headed towards the woods. To the wooded wonderland we go,
with green giant trees and the deep sound of gurgling from a babbling brook.
As I was driving down the road Barnie stuck his head out the window like
he usually does. He sniffed the air while the surreal velocity of the passing
air dangled his long floppy ears madly about.
After some
time has passed while driving along I finally came to where I was headed,
the rugged outback of the primitive forest. I opened the door and out dashed
Barnie all too eager to run about sniffing at anything and everything.
Barnie ran up ahead on the trail as I closed the car door and started down
the path after him. Barnie would run about fifty feet ahead and then stop
to smell around. He occasionally would look back to make sure I was following
him.
I came to
where the path divided. Barnie was up one of the paths sniffing around
an old knurled sycamore tree, but I didn't want to go up that way so I
headed up the other path. I made my way about ten feet up the path when
I realized that Barnie didn't notice where I was going. Normally he would
notice my change in direction and mount all of his excess energy to charge
up behind me and then pass me and keep right on going for another fifty
feet.
While Barnie
was sniffing around he spotted a rabbit up ahead. The rabbit was scared
stiff when he saw Barnie. To a rabbit all dogs must appear somewhat menacing
as I would presume, But then again what do I know? I'm not a rabbit. Anyway's
enough of my presumptions, lets get on with the story.
As the situation
now stands, Barnie and the rabbit saw each other. In the next instance
the rabbit took off in fright with Barnie right behind nipping at his heels.
The sounds of Barnies yelping got fainter as the trio ran amok through
the woods dashing hither and thither. Barnies yelping could hardly be heard
now as I wondered if he would ever come back. I noticed a chirping bird
nearby siting on a leafless branch, this distracted me for just an instant
as I quickly turned my attention back towards any recognizable sounds from
Barnies terminal chase of the rabbit. But alias, I could here nothing,
except that is, the sounds issuing forth from my immediate surroundings.
I heard the
rustling of twigs from a chipmunk. I heard the splashing of water upon
rocks from the nearby stream. I heard the chirping of grasshoppers. I heard
many more sounds, some I could identify, and others I could not. I walked
over to the stream and splashed my hands in the water. It was a hot day
and getting hotter as the sun climbed towards its zenith. There was greenish
gray mold growing on the rocks. A log lay across the creek in a haphazard
way. On the other side of the creek was a clump of young spruce trees.
I crossed the creek and headed to where the spruce trees were. The trees
were enmeshed thickly together blocking out the sun. The area next to the
trunks was pretty well shaded and secluded. This would be a good place
were deer may lay, I thought to myself. As I got closer a deer did indeed
pop up and fly away so to speak. This started me, for even though I thought
it I did not suspect it. These things and more my eyes did see., for the
day was crisp and clear giving the sky a dark blue glow with high cirrus
clouds gently swaying on by.
Patches of
clover were glowing between the creek and spruce trees along with a couple
of blueberry bushes and a splattering of mountain laurel. I completely
forgot about Barnie as I kept on trekking up and over a low rise. A bit
farther on the trees yielded to a field of wild bristle grass. In the distance
I could just barely make out an old weather beaten structure above the
tall grass gently swirling in the breeze. Perhaps it’s a barn or maybe
even a house, I conjectured to myself. Just than Barnie came trotting up
behind me, panting in hyper mode.
I walked across
the field to what turned out to be a house profusely deteriorated to the
point of collapse. As usual, Barnie was already there, sniffing around
the half destroyed porch. I stepped on a few rotted boards and looked into
the doorway. I looked around the dilapidated structure for awhile and then
Barnie and I walked back to the car and drove home, with Barnie taking
a nap in the back seat.
All in all,
it was a good day. The woods enriches and expands the ever existing self.
This experience and others like it will forever be with me while I travel
down the eternal path of time.
~The End~
The preceding was written sometime in the year 1989 or 1990 or it could have been 1991 as far as I can recall. Now Barnie is old and weak. He can hardly get up anymore. I have to help him to get up sometimes. This Monday he was so bad I had to take him to the vet to find out what's up. He's heart is bad says the vet.
Now it's Feb 17, 1999. Barnie please don't die, don't die Barnie don't die. With tears strolling down my face I can't bear to see him like this. I look into his old sunken face and try to remember how he used to look when he was young and energetic. "Live Barnie live" I think, trying to make him well again.
On Monday, May 17, 1999 My beloved Barnie was put to sleep. May his spirit forever run wild and free through the open fields of eternity.
Poemspage
INFINITE
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