Gerrit Dou (1613–1675), Sleeping Dog (detail), 1650. Oil on panel, 6 ½ x 8 ½ inches. The Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection. Image courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The end of a year can be challenging, especially when we consider those who have recently passed, or those who passed years ago. Bereavement sneaks in, but only if we shut it out. As we close 2013 and look ahead to 2014, we’d like to share this poem by Denise Levertov.
Talking to Grief by Denise Levertov
Ah, Grief, I should not treat you
like a homeless dog
who comes to the back door
for a crust, for a meatless bone.
I should trust you.
I should coax you
into the house and give you
your own corner,
a worn mat to lie on,
your own water dish.
You think I don’t know you’ve been living
under my porch.
You long for your real place to be readied
before winter comes. You need
your name,
your collar and tag. You need
the right to warn off intruders,
to consider
my house your own
and me your person
and yourself
my own dog.
Levertov, D. (1978). “Talking to Grief” from Life in the forest. New York:
New Directions Books, p. 43.
While we haven’t posted many blogs this past year, we’ve been very active on Facebook, posting a variety of interesting information about our work, bereavement, the environment and art, along with compelling animal stories. Please “like us” on Facebook and share our posts. We’ve also been adding to our website and working behind the scenes to make our Green Pet-Burial Society more responsive to people’s needs. Watch for new posts early in the new year.
Wishing you all a healthy and joyful New Year!
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