Thursday, December 17, 2009

Dharma by Billy Collins

Catfish and Cody, both alpha males...can you tell?



DHARMA
By Billy Collins

The way the dog trots out the front door
every morning
without a hat or an umbrella,
without any money
or the keys to her doghouse
never fails to fill the saucer of my heart
with milky admiration.

Who provides a finer example
of a life without encumbrance—
Thoreau in his curtainless hut
with a single plate, a single spoon?
Gandhi with his staff and his holy diapers?

Off she goes into the material world
with nothing but her brown coat
and her modest blue collar,
following only her wet nose,
the twin portals of her steady breathing,
followed only by the plume of her tail.

If only she did not shove the cat aside
every morning and eat all his food
what a model of self-containment she
would be,
what a paragon of earthly detachment.
If only she were not so eager
for a rub behind the ears,
so acrobatic in her welcomes,
if only I were not her god.

****************************************************

"Any member introducing a dog into the Society's premises shall be liable to a fine of one pound. Any animal leading a blind person shall be deemed to be a cat." ~Oxford Union Society, London, Rule 46

"A cat, after being scolded, goes about its business. A dog slinks off into a corner and pretends to be doing a serious self-reappraisal." ~Robert Brault



12 comments:

Renee said...

You are going to have a wonderful time. I love the idea of the diary.

So happy that your little boy can hear and talk to you.

xoxox

RNSANE said...

Such a good description of a loyal dog!

Marion said...

Thanks, Renee and Carmen. Yes, Renee, I can't wait to get my hands on my grandkids in Tennessee next week. We're excited about flying. I've only flown once in my life. Love and Blessings!!!

Iddy Albatross said...

I just got reminded of all the reasons why I love dogs so much :) Awesome post... cheers...

Kelly said...

Wonderful, wonderful post! (since you know my feelings about dogs)

Hope you get your card before you leave. I'm SO late with them this year! Finished up last night and planning to get to the P.O. later today.

Phoenix said...

LOL I love both cats and dogs for various reasons...cats for the pure A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E that is just awesome...dogs for the unconditional love of just about everyone that pets them.

And I adore Billy Collin's poem!

Woman in a Window said...

I'm a wanna be dog person. And even my cat, poor thing that she is, has me wondering on my own cat person philosophy. I should test myself with someone else's animals. Mine are all worn out.

Fun poem, Marion.
To be unencumbered by stuff...
xo
erin

Karen said...

Wonderful poem! I had a conversation just today about dogs and cats and their importance to the people they own. Sadly, I'm a cat person sans kitty to love. Maybe Santa?

Rikkij said...

Marion- now you have me wondering if people are more like dogs or cats. I think we're the worst of both. we slobber and skoot but go about our business. Could ya scritch me, just a bit, behind the left ear? ahhhh that's the ticket! Purrrrrrr.....~rick

Marion said...

You all are so sweet. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm about 99% cat and 1% dog. Tee-Hee.

Rick, I got to tell ya, you've given me an ulcer by removing the comment form off your blog. The first time you did it, I spent about ten minutes screaming and pulling my hair out trying to figure out where the damn comment form went. You dirty, stinking DOG!!! LOL!

I've always said that dogs are men in little fur coats.

Love & Blessings, everyone. XOXOXO

PS: Please pray for our Renee. She's got a tumor at the base of her esophagus and can barely swallow. She desperately needs a miracle. Thank you and God Bless You!!

Renee said...

Marion thank your Ray and I hope that he is feeling better soon.

Love Renee xoxo

Marion said...

You are very welcome, Ms. Renee and Ray sends his love. (He sees me crying at the computer often and feels like he knows you because I talk about you so often....we've adopted you as a member of our dysFUNctional family!) LOL! Ray's doing much better thanks to the wonders of modern medicine. Love & Blessings!!