Poem 42 will outlive us all. Years ago I purchased a sale book from Borders by a man who photographs stray dogs around Los Angeles, rescuing them from hunger and loneliness. I still have the book, moving photos, and a text on the mystery of canine love.
I did not know that dogs go on trusting after enormous abuse, Kylie. I know that animals have emotions, When Elephants Cry etc. My Uncle George told me it takes at least two years to bond with a stallion, depending on how the horse has been treated by his previous owner. George left school at 14 to work with horses and was a sergeant-major in charge of mules at the battle of Monte Cassino. He said he was glad the age of horse-drawn industry came to an end because it was so cruel. *Black Beauty tells the truth about how horses were treated,* he told me. George celebrated his 100th birthday last April.
Well not every dog ever recovers from abuse but many do, their desire to be around people and respond to affection is remarkable. I think we have underestimated the way animals think and feel because they don't have language to tell us. All animals used to serve humanity suffer abuse, racing animals, meat animals, dairy cows, donkeys/mules etc. I don't remember horse drawn vehicles of course but I am not at all surprised they were also abused. Uncle George has had a long life, he must have seen a lot!
George bred dogs as well as horses. When I was young he kept love birds. Now he has his cat, and his daughter and grandsons, living next door; as well as two sons in London; and a daughter in Livorno, Italy; all of whom have children. One daughter died in her twenties, when her dentist bungled the general anaesthetic procedure, the only one of his children who worked with horses. George outlived his Italian wife, my Aunt Ginetta, a very kind lady, very shy. I have been thinking about Ginetta today, after watching a YouTube film, *What did the Pope know about the Holocaust?* DW Documentary 2020.
I shudder every time I see Hitler and his uniformed thugs, but the archival footage is haunting. The suffering of the innocent is the test of faith, but the atheists have no real answer for the evil in the world.
Precious indeed. Loving and much loved.
ReplyDeleteAll my other reflections on Valentine's Day were cynical so I decided to write a tribute to pets 🙂
DeleteThat's because you are a lovely person. Many others could, I'm sure, not be so loving or kind.
ReplyDeleteWell thank you Graham!
DeleteI think dogs are fabulously forgiving, there's no tiptoeing around them
Canine gratitude, love, and forgiveness are glorious to behold.
ReplyDeleteAnd joy!I love their joy
DeletePoem 42 will outlive us all.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I purchased a sale book from Borders by a man who photographs stray dogs around Los Angeles, rescuing them from hunger and loneliness.
I still have the book, moving photos, and a text on the mystery of canine love.
I waste a lot of time watching stories of dog rescues. Their ability to trust after enormous abuse and neglect is so heartwarming
DeleteI did not know that dogs go on trusting after enormous abuse, Kylie.
ReplyDeleteI know that animals have emotions, When Elephants Cry etc.
My Uncle George told me it takes at least two years to bond with a stallion, depending on how the horse has been treated by his previous owner.
George left school at 14 to work with horses and was a sergeant-major in charge of mules at the battle of Monte Cassino.
He said he was glad the age of horse-drawn industry came to an end because it was so cruel.
*Black Beauty tells the truth about how horses were treated,* he told me.
George celebrated his 100th birthday last April.
Well not every dog ever recovers from abuse but many do, their desire to be around people and respond to affection is remarkable.
DeleteI think we have underestimated the way animals think and feel because they don't have language to tell us. All animals used to serve humanity suffer abuse, racing animals, meat animals, dairy cows, donkeys/mules etc. I don't remember horse drawn vehicles of course but I am not at all surprised they were also abused.
Uncle George has had a long life, he must have seen a lot!
George bred dogs as well as horses. When I was young he kept love birds.
DeleteNow he has his cat, and his daughter and grandsons, living next door; as well as two sons in London; and a daughter in Livorno, Italy; all of whom have children. One daughter died in her twenties, when her dentist bungled the general anaesthetic procedure, the only one of his children who worked with horses.
George outlived his Italian wife, my Aunt Ginetta, a very kind lady, very shy.
I have been thinking about Ginetta today, after watching a YouTube film,
*What did the Pope know about the Holocaust?* DW Documentary 2020.
I shudder every time I see Hitler and his uniformed thugs, but the archival footage is haunting.
The suffering of the innocent is the test of faith, but the atheists have no real answer for the evil in the world.