On loss...

[Forest]

Kind Friends,

My bird is a rescue dove, named Little Ahab for his limping determination. I found him on a midwinter New England street, flightless and without a tail. He’s been with me for two years and more now, and in June, his presence helped me through my mother’s swift and wrenching death.

Little Ahab, bless him, is still with me. But the compassion and love I see gathered here makes me want to post a poem my mother wrote, that is apropos. My mother, Lou Rogers, was a superb, visionary artist and, I think, an eloquent writer.
...

Plea and Reply
(on the death of a pet)

O merciful and holy,
hear now and once forever
these myriad I witness daily:
feather broken on the road,
small pelt impaled,
claws locked in ice
or dim eye sinking,
or flutter and buzz,
or any who falls under a mountain.
All these need a saint.

O kind observer,
here you see us:
feather broken on the road,
small pelt impaled,
claws locked in ice,
or dim eye sinking,
or flutter and buzz,
or any who falls under a mountain.
Did you think we pass in ignorance?
Do you know we are the fingers of the saint?
...

All the small beings my mother saw pass stayed with her: she told me, in that last week we had together, that ‘road kill’ were a central source of faith to her. I said, “What??” She explained that she cried for them, each one, yet simultaneously knew, really knew, in the center of herself, that somehow in some manner they were all right, gathered in, held, released.

Where these small creatures went, she would go without fear.

My mother was my friend, my first ally, only holder of my longest history, my artistic mentor, my care and my duty, my only immediate family.

But then too, there’s Little Ahab.

My best to you and to your dear birds,
Forest
http://www.forestrogers.com

[Reti]

Thank you for your post. It is very sad and touching and so is the poem your mother wrote. She was a very special lady.

Reti

[Charis]

Thank you, Forest for your post. It was deeply touching, very thought provoking and one I will give concideration to in the days to come.
I pray that you are blessed and comforted with the physical presence of Little Ahab for years to come.
On some level, I believe your mother is with you still just as all those little creatures were with her.
Blessings to you and Little Ahab.

[Trees Gray]

Hi Forest,

I appreciate you posting this very insightful poem.

Bless you and little AHAB, may God protect and watch over you.

[mr squeaks]

What a LOVELY tribute, Forest!

May you and Ahab enjoy a long and wonderful life together!

Thank you for taking the time to post for us.

With love,

Shi

[Rockie]

Forest, thank you for sharing your mother's poem. Although it was sad it showed how much respect she had for all beings...what a beautiful person she must have been.

[Jazicat]

Your mother's poem is truly beautiful and it sounds like she was a beautiful soul who is still touching the world with her art and words. Thank you for sharing her memory with us.

[maryjane]

Thank you for sharing that with us. Your mother must have been very special.

I feel the same way about animals on the side of the road and try to think of them as being in a safe place. My brother puts it pretty well, I think; whenever we are driving and see a dead animal, and I say, "Oh, the poor raccoon,", he says, "That one had an incurable disease." Makes it a little easier to think in that way.