BARNIE

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
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