Saturday, August 1, 2015

Running Free in the Forests of Heaven



Running free in the forests of Heaven
is how I see you,
tail and ears up
and that old wild gleam
in your eye.
I never tamed you.
I never wanted to.
We both loved the wild,
and I honored it in you.

Those big puppy paws,
I hope they're lolloping along
miles of sandy beaches,
dipping in and out
of the waves,
the way you always did,
impervious to my calls
as you always were,
until you were done,
and then back you'd come,
galloping along
to me.
You'd pick up a piece 
of driftwood
as we left,
and carry it to the car,
for remembering.

Now I am the one
who is remembering.
And one day,
when it's time,
old wilderness pal of mine,
may you come lolloping
back to me
to guide me safely home.

There are only three things
I need to see in Heaven -
the first is you,
and old growth forests,
and the sea,
so we can walk those trails,
hike endless sandy beaches,
and watch the sunset, once more,
you and me.

written in 2011 and posted for the Poetry Pantry at Poets United

26 comments:

  1. beauty is made of such longing...

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  2. And one day,
    when it's time,
    old wilderness pal of mine,
    may you come lolloping
    back to me
    to guide me safely home.

    I have no greater wish for myself than to be greeted by my dearly departed dogs. There is quite a pack waiting for me on the other side.

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  3. How heavenly Sherry! The forests and the beaches are what one misses most besides the loved ones! Wonderful write!

    Hank

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  4. How emotive it is to remember our canine friends for the way they would engage and understand us accepting us as one of them.

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  5. Such a wonderful photo full of life..i can hear you speaking this one Sherry..yes..that reunion will come and it will be joyous..but not for some time i hope xo

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  6. I love this part best:

    And one day,
    when it's time,
    old wilderness pal of mine,
    may you come lolloping
    back to me
    to guide me safely home.

    A wonderful tribute to your beloved pup ~

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  7. This has such a sweet longing towards your loyal companion. a beautiful tribute.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  8. Such yearning in this poem, Sherry. It brings sadness as well as joy. Indeed, someday you and he will walk those trails again!

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  9. Beautiful - but made me weep a little, too.

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  10. Oh, this took my breath away...and brought tears to my eyes. What a loving tribute...our dog would've been 15 years old this past week. We also picture her up in heaven, happy and free, and waiting to see us again one day. Thank you for sharing! <3

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  11. Oh, straight from the heart. I knew I'd find something warm here this morning :) Beautiful imagery, Sherry.

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  12. a lovely endearing poem

    have a lovely Sunday Sherry

    much love...

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  13. Dear Sherry, you and that dog, always bring me to tears....i want to think he is waiting for you, and picks up a stick for remembering....hugs

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  14. tears flowing Sherry as I remember those I love fondly too through your loving words....

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  15. My eyes are hot and shiny... with my own memories. I'm also smiling because there is an immense sense of happiness dancing out of these poem: a speaker who accepts life its losses... with its death. One who believes (or knows) than when things are over around this wilderness, a new forest awaits... ♥

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  16. I love this, the picture too. I love the wildness in my dogs, thei disobedience, their spirit. Your heaven sounds worderfully simple, yet vast in its joy.

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  17. This is so beautiful - a classic Sherry Blue Sky piece.

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  18. I loved the last paragraph especially. Such a wonderful dream and so heart touching :)

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  19. Beautiful....you have such a way of honoring the wild and of expressing your love and appreciation for nature. Gorgeous.

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  20. Sherry, I can feel your love for your pup..I believe he still travels with you today..he is in the little things you see in the day..reminders that he is never far from your side.

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  21. a lovely tribute for a wonderful friend.

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  22. Awww...what a beautiful piece of writing, sherry. The truth is that we know little about what heaven is like. What we do know is that this is a complete union with the Divine. So, as a dog lover myself, who is obsessed with Dogs,... I can picture my babies bounding toward me in heaven..Smiles. This. writing prompts some great insight to an animal’s place in heaven...LOVE THIS....

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  23. That sounds like a wonderful friend to see again.

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  24. A sweet dedication...
    Made me think/miss my little doggie who grew up with me... But never saw me as a grown up...

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