So very sad for the loss of a beautiful, young dog, but all the love you have given him will only help his spirit drive onwards. My own grief for my beloved canine partner is still sharp and raw after three long years. What you said was helpful to this (aged) sufferer. And thank you for inviting me to shate the platform with you at L'Autre Rive. Honoured to stand beside you and admire your poetic being - undimmed!
Thank you for all that, Wendy. Yes, the pain lingers, doesn't it; and, while no later dog is a replacement, at least you have the lively and indomitable TT as a loving companion. It was a privilege to share that stage with you, and hear out loud work of yours I know on the page. X
I am so very sorry to hear about your loss, Roselle. Such real grief. As humans, it’s a journey we must take. And can, for we will receive the inner strength from within. When my beloved black cat was killed, it was the birch tree that saved me from drowning in the sea of grief. I don’t know how, but it did. You pointed me in that direction through your poetry and writing. May poetry also come to you, from others and from within your heart.
Lisa what a very kind message. Thank you for the affirmation, too.
I think I remember your cat dying? Heartbreaking.
And yes, the birch – the poet's tree! Absolutely it helps. There are two on the edges of our Home Meadow that I can see from the kitchen – one has leaves, one doesn't; symbolic.
So sorry to read this, I've only ever lived with little cats, not big dogs, but the heart is equally given away, warmed and shared... perhaps Writing now moving again in you will help. I surely hope and trust it will, for you. x
My heartfelt condolences to you. Losing a loved member of the family is difficult, and somehow, losing unconditional love from a pet seems especially tough. However, as you rightfully point out – it is different than losing a loved human.
I’m with you on the birds, as well. I recall how much pure joy I had following and photographing 3 kingfishers who hung out for months during the complex days of the Covid era...those birds saved my sanity.
And your harvest sounds utterly divine. I wish I could find a way to escape for a few weeks and come visit your farm. It would be a delightful experience to witness the ups and downs of what you are doing.
Thank you, Jack. Yes, I remember that you posted on kingfishers – fabulous birds! I camped by a lake in eastern Brittany once and we saw 13 at a time!
I'd love you to come and visit. We do have a spare room. You need to know though that visitors often get roped in! But I don't want to give you the wrong impression: although there are a number of acres what we're actually working is relatively small (if very time-consuming): the forest garden is lost in the big field and our potager, though full, is a small part of the land here. Much we are letting regenerate via native woodland species.
Hravest time is pretty full-on though. Yesterday beans; today some of the many apples; the squashes need to come in out of the rain and we have many sweet potatoes that, Like the carrots, we need to find a way to store.
Such beautiful photos of your lovely dog Bran. Many commiserations…
I need a daily poem and such in my life to properly step into the day, and thoroughly recommend ‘A Year with Rilke’… The fine translations by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows couldn’t be better…
Thank you, Mari. And that's a great recommendation – I love Rilke and I know some of Joanna M's translations, but not that book. Fabulous - perfect. Thank you. And I have let slip my own practice of reading a morning poem.
Do you know – I expect you do – Bloodaxe's Staying Alive anthology? He followed it up with 2 others, but this first one really is the best.
I'm so very sorry to hear of your great loss. Every word you wrote about the love between humans and dogs resonates with me and I've been through this pain more times than I care to remember. I don't know if you'll remember but I've had Irish Wolfhounds for many many years and the losses came much too frequently. Which is why our current Wolfhound, Marnie, has been joined by a different breed - a lurcher, much like your beautiful pair. Her father is a Scottish Deerhound so she's very 'leggy' and we feel we haven't strayed too far from wolfhound territory but are hoping we won't have to say goodbye so soon. She's all hound and long running dog and you will know the speed these beautiful animals can conjure up - I sometimes think there must be deer in there somewhere!
I hope 'talking' about hounds hasn't upset you too much at what must be a very tender time for you and my thoughts are with you.
Angie, thank you. Yes, I remember you and wolfhounds – and they were the breed I always wanted to live with myself until I realised quite what a short lifespan they have. My own Ash, who was 7/8th deerhound, lived till she was 14 (she was a bigger version of Bran, who was part deerhound, part greyhound, part collie, not unlike your lurcher I believe).
Yes; at the moment it isn't any easier. No doubt it will be. Thank you.
Thanks, Chris. There are better ones too (photos), but for the moment I didn't want to post them; don't quite know why. Oh yes - a wise Myrddin! The top photo is not typical - I thnk he looks much older in it than he usually did (5). X
A moving piece of writing, Roselle. More so because of its honesty. I’m so sorry to hear of Bran’s death. You sound tired with all your physical work. I’m glad you gave a reading with Jan.
So very sad for the loss of a beautiful, young dog, but all the love you have given him will only help his spirit drive onwards. My own grief for my beloved canine partner is still sharp and raw after three long years. What you said was helpful to this (aged) sufferer. And thank you for inviting me to shate the platform with you at L'Autre Rive. Honoured to stand beside you and admire your poetic being - undimmed!
Thank you for all that, Wendy. Yes, the pain lingers, doesn't it; and, while no later dog is a replacement, at least you have the lively and indomitable TT as a loving companion. It was a privilege to share that stage with you, and hear out loud work of yours I know on the page. X
I am so very sorry to hear about your loss, Roselle. Such real grief. As humans, it’s a journey we must take. And can, for we will receive the inner strength from within. When my beloved black cat was killed, it was the birch tree that saved me from drowning in the sea of grief. I don’t know how, but it did. You pointed me in that direction through your poetry and writing. May poetry also come to you, from others and from within your heart.
Lisa what a very kind message. Thank you for the affirmation, too.
I think I remember your cat dying? Heartbreaking.
And yes, the birch – the poet's tree! Absolutely it helps. There are two on the edges of our Home Meadow that I can see from the kitchen – one has leaves, one doesn't; symbolic.
So sorry to read this, I've only ever lived with little cats, not big dogs, but the heart is equally given away, warmed and shared... perhaps Writing now moving again in you will help. I surely hope and trust it will, for you. x
Katherine, thank you for commenting, and for your empathy. Writing does so help, it's true.
My heartfelt condolences to you. Losing a loved member of the family is difficult, and somehow, losing unconditional love from a pet seems especially tough. However, as you rightfully point out – it is different than losing a loved human.
I’m with you on the birds, as well. I recall how much pure joy I had following and photographing 3 kingfishers who hung out for months during the complex days of the Covid era...those birds saved my sanity.
And your harvest sounds utterly divine. I wish I could find a way to escape for a few weeks and come visit your farm. It would be a delightful experience to witness the ups and downs of what you are doing.
Thank you, Jack. Yes, I remember that you posted on kingfishers – fabulous birds! I camped by a lake in eastern Brittany once and we saw 13 at a time!
I'd love you to come and visit. We do have a spare room. You need to know though that visitors often get roped in! But I don't want to give you the wrong impression: although there are a number of acres what we're actually working is relatively small (if very time-consuming): the forest garden is lost in the big field and our potager, though full, is a small part of the land here. Much we are letting regenerate via native woodland species.
Hravest time is pretty full-on though. Yesterday beans; today some of the many apples; the squashes need to come in out of the rain and we have many sweet potatoes that, Like the carrots, we need to find a way to store.
'there are no words - so here I am, not saying them' 🫂
Ahh Janey - thank you for the unsaid words...
Such beautiful photos of your lovely dog Bran. Many commiserations…
I need a daily poem and such in my life to properly step into the day, and thoroughly recommend ‘A Year with Rilke’… The fine translations by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows couldn’t be better…
Wishing you the most bountiful harvests to come!
Thank you, Mari. And that's a great recommendation – I love Rilke and I know some of Joanna M's translations, but not that book. Fabulous - perfect. Thank you. And I have let slip my own practice of reading a morning poem.
Do you know – I expect you do – Bloodaxe's Staying Alive anthology? He followed it up with 2 others, but this first one really is the best.
I'm so very sorry to hear of your great loss. Every word you wrote about the love between humans and dogs resonates with me and I've been through this pain more times than I care to remember. I don't know if you'll remember but I've had Irish Wolfhounds for many many years and the losses came much too frequently. Which is why our current Wolfhound, Marnie, has been joined by a different breed - a lurcher, much like your beautiful pair. Her father is a Scottish Deerhound so she's very 'leggy' and we feel we haven't strayed too far from wolfhound territory but are hoping we won't have to say goodbye so soon. She's all hound and long running dog and you will know the speed these beautiful animals can conjure up - I sometimes think there must be deer in there somewhere!
I hope 'talking' about hounds hasn't upset you too much at what must be a very tender time for you and my thoughts are with you.
Blessings
Angie (and Marnie and Fig)
Angie, thank you. Yes, I remember you and wolfhounds – and they were the breed I always wanted to live with myself until I realised quite what a short lifespan they have. My own Ash, who was 7/8th deerhound, lived till she was 14 (she was a bigger version of Bran, who was part deerhound, part greyhound, part collie, not unlike your lurcher I believe).
Yes; at the moment it isn't any easier. No doubt it will be. Thank you.
Beautiful photos. The only other ones I’ve seen were when they were pups. Bran has the look about him of a wise Myrddin. So sad. Xx
Thanks, Chris. There are better ones too (photos), but for the moment I didn't want to post them; don't quite know why. Oh yes - a wise Myrddin! The top photo is not typical - I thnk he looks much older in it than he usually did (5). X
A moving piece of writing, Roselle. More so because of its honesty. I’m so sorry to hear of Bran’s death. You sound tired with all your physical work. I’m glad you gave a reading with Jan.
We do our best. Love xx
Thank you, Marg. x I'm really tired. I've had months of insomnia; was just coming out of it when we lost Bran, which has thrust me back.
It’s hard. As you wrote before - there are glimmers of light. Thank goodness. Xx
Thank you again for your care, Marg. X
Such a loss but so glad I got to meet Bran.
For beetroot -- it makes wonderful veggie burgers xx
Thank you, Jan.
Oh yes! Had completely forgotten. That's 6 recipes now then! X