When you love a wild thing
your heart becomes wild too.
You gallop together joyously
along deserted beaches
to the roar of the waves
with an exultant song
of freedom in your heart.
You track through old growth forests,
padding gently on the mossy floor,
alert for other critters
in the bush.
You walk the beach
to the moo of Lennard's Light,
in fog so thick that others' voices
are disembodied spirits
that emerge, startled and laughing,
when you get close.
When you love a wild thing,
your heart soars with eagles
and is tethered to the land
only by love.
When you love a wild thing,
the bond of devotion
runs deeper than any human
you have ever encountered
was capable of.
And when you lose a wild thing,
your heart resists
its return
to being tame.
An oldie from 2011, after Pup had made his journey to the spirit world. I still miss that big black wolf, more than I can say. Shared with the Poetry Pantry at Poets United, where you will find good reading every Sunday morning.
What a beautiful love that is!
ReplyDeleteI know. You reminded me of my own Sundance,whose wildness stayed in him--though tempered enough to live with me--his whole life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous poem, and gorgeous animal! How very blessed you both were to love each other.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautifully evocative, Sherry!💞
ReplyDeletewow, Shery, this poem speaks to me! It reminded me of walks with my dog, Jasper, especially our beach walks. The last stanza made me cry.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this... what a wonderful love...we need those wild things (and they find the wild in us as well)
ReplyDeletethis poem sent me down memory lane to an old companion...
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see Pup again. He was a wonderful wild thing!!
ReplyDeleteAh lovely. Really an interesting and beautiful concept and poem. Thanks, Sherry. k.
ReplyDeleteI love the first part and adore this one, too. When we love, we never want to lose... not ever.
ReplyDeleteah yes we do need that love of wild in our lives. Happy you shared the little ode with us today
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my Sunday Standard today Sherry
much love...
This is so beautiful !
ReplyDelete"When you love a wild thing
your heart becomes wild too."
Reminded me of school days, when I used to have one...
this is a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteand these wild things could be more gentle and loving than any other humans.
So much painful truth rendered in your beautiful words as our hearts do break....our wild things that are lost to us leave a hole in my heart although I know that is the harshness of nature.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much joy, yes even in that last verse that speaks of loss. Because despite the pain you know that if the chance came to love wildly again, the protagonist would take it in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteI love this poem as I love all of your poems about Pup. the last stanza made me cry, as your poems frequently do, reminding of gone companions.
ReplyDelete"When you love a wild thing,
ReplyDeleteyour heart soars with eagles
and is tethered to the land
only by love." O, to be so wild again!
I am so grateful for that final resistance,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
The funniest part with one dog of ours, Caesar, we were walking the the woods coming to a stream running full.
ReplyDeleteHe jumped in and paddled up river while I watched he then turned look at me and I could feel him urge me to jump in too!
Heart warming ..that kind of transformative love...
ReplyDeleteI know how much you loved Pup. I know too that your love for him extends to loving all animals, wild or tame. How amazing for you to have had such a rich, unforgettable relationship. This is a lovely poem. Your heart here is fully exposed.
ReplyDeleteAwesome pierce... my hearts has little to be tamed but my mind is having a stampede : )
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - some wonderful words in this ... I loved 'exultant song' - the way it soars up from the piece. The close is perfect.
ReplyDelete