Early Morning Poem for Pearl
iPhone drawing based on old Pearl–meaning young Pearl–new pictures of her (18) don’t really do her justice
Early Morning Poem For Pearl
Sun winks gold pink
at the freeze’s peaked rim, every edge below
a ledge for white, all
snow-furred.
I hold the old dog, whitish,
also hinting pink. She trembles
even back in the house; heart sinks
in the holding.
In this stilled valley,
all that moves–the trembling dog,
the pinking light, my heart.
*******************************
55 words for Pearl (and also for the G-Man). She is nearly 18 1/2 and really getting decrepit. It is sad in ways that a person who’s not owned a dog may find difficult to fathom.
I post a picture of Pearl below though she looks terribly bedraggled. It is torturous to her to mess around too much with her grooming at this stage in her life.
Tags: Brrr...., dog in snow painting, Friday Flash 55, iPhone dog painting, manicddaily, Manicddaily dog, Pearl, short poem for little old dog
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ManicDDaily 
November 29, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Ah k–a jewel of a poem, and a deep sadness at the heart to understand the trembling. Sorry I spoke so lightly in my earlier comments about Pearl–obviously she is much closer to saying goodbye than my own two dogs, and it becomes do difficult when a certain point is crossed to know what to do. Love her, I guess. This poem is everything both beautiful and terrifying about the wintry end landscape of love–real love.
November 29, 2013 at 3:44 pm
No worries. It is very hard right now as she is literally teetering. Hard to know about pain in a dog. And, of course, the cold here is difficult (though she is obsessed by eating snow–I guess, thirsty, so strange.)
November 29, 2013 at 11:26 pm
Well, usually they will communicate severe pain vocally, though they are so much more stoic than we are…I think fear is worse for them, and that is something you can keep at bay with care and love, anyway. Such a hard time. Cyber-hugs to you both.
November 29, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Sounds to me like you’ve given Pearl a safe and loving home for years, and she is leaving you a lifetime of companionship, comfort, and unconditional love.
Loved your precious 55
Thanks for playing, thanks for giving us a cool pic, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
November 29, 2013 at 2:28 pm
I especially love that her hearts sinks into the holding, a stilled holding. How comforting for her. I understand how totally dogs become part of our lives. She’s fortunate as are you, and this poem is a touching tribute to her.
November 29, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Oh darling Pearl. I SO KNOW that sinking of the heart. Pup failed visibly when he was fourteen and I grieved him long before he ever died and still do. Three years later, I still cry for him. May her passing, when it inevitably comes, be peaceful, in your arms, where she has always known comfort and joy. Blessings to you as you companion her through this passage.
November 29, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Thank you, Sherry. k.
November 29, 2013 at 3:52 pm
sweet Pearl ~
November 29, 2013 at 4:22 pm
love the drawing and love that you’re writing her poems.. i had a dog and can understand to see him suffer… he was such a friend esp. during difficult teenage times… have to look and see if i find a pic…
November 29, 2013 at 4:22 pm
that should read… i understand how hard it is to see him suffer…
November 29, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Understood. Hi Claudia! k.
November 29, 2013 at 5:41 pm
def a cute pic k…and sad when you know they are coming toward the end…even if they are hanging in there…
November 29, 2013 at 8:42 pm
This is so tender and moving.
November 30, 2013 at 7:20 am
Oh, pretty Pearl. Our dog trembles all the time, and she’s only 8 months old! I don’t know why we got another one, putting the last one to sleep was hard.
December 1, 2013 at 1:13 am
dear Pearl. I am reading this second, just after reading your most recent post. this is a beautiful love poem, karin, simply beautiful.
December 1, 2013 at 8:35 am
Thank you, Jane. k.
December 1, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Couldn’t quite hit like. You know how I feel. Keep writing about her, Karin. It’s so healing. We used poetry and art in hospice for children in grief work.
December 2, 2013 at 11:25 am
I have never had a dog.. we had cats,,, and I recall the pain when they ceased to be members of the family.. sometimes by accidents and sometimes slowly fading… wonderful post.
December 2, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Thank you, Bjorn. k.
December 3, 2013 at 5:22 am
One of the most precious poems for a dog I’ve ever read. She was perfectly named, as I can tell she shone like a pearl when groomed…and was still lovely even when aged. Old dogs have such dignity. They seem to be existing in two realms, and as their time for parting nears, they know everything. I am sure of this.