Sunday, September 13, 2009

The House Dog's Grave

I've changed my ways a little; I cannot now
Run with you in the evenings along the shore,
Except in a kind of dream; and you, if you dream a moment,
You see me there.

So leave awhile the paw-marks on the front door
Where I used to scratch to go out or in,
And you'd soon open; leave on the kitchen floor
The marks of my drinking-pan.

I cannot lie by your fire as I used to do
On the warm stone,
Nor at the foot of your bed; no, all the night through
I lie alone.

But your kind thought has laid me less than six feet
Outside your window where firelight so often plays,
And where you sit to read--and I fear often grieving for me--
Every night your lamplight lies on my place.

You, man and woman, live so long, it is hard
To think of you ever dying
A little dog would get tired, living so long.
I hope that when you are lying

Under the ground like me your lives will appear
As good and joyful as mine.
No, dear, that's too much hope: you are not so well cared for
As I have been.

And never have known the passionate undivided
Fidelities that I knew.
Your minds are perhaps too active, too many-sided. . . .
But to me you were true.

You were never masters, but friends. I was your friend.
I loved you well, and was loved. Deep love endures
To the end and far past the end. If this is my end,
I am not lonely. I am not afraid. I am still yours.


Robinson Jeffers, 1941

9 comments:

DogBlogger said...

Thank you. I hadn't read this one before.
(((Zorra)))

Diane M. Roth said...

what a gorgeous poem.

(((Zorra)))

Unknown said...

(((Zorra)))
Crying.

Rev Kim said...

Beautiful.

(((Zorra)))

Iris said...

much love, Zorra.

Kathryn said...

Crying here. Thank you (I think...)
Hugs xxx

kdoyle said...

Still thinking of you.

mid-life rookie said...

(((((0)))))

Barbara B. said...

This is beautiful...
I'm just now catching up on your blog. I'm sorry about Amie.