Start at the Heart (A Haibun)
Today’s Focail do a Chara
There’s nothing like waking up to the sound of a sick dog hacking, pitter-patter of doggy feet circling the tile floor, to start your day with adrenaline surging, heart racing, breath catching. Your eyes automatically look for the vomit on the floor before you step.
Start at the feet.
Let love flow from the ground
to the heart;
stay true in the moment.
The vet says it’s the pneumonia in her lungs breaking up, this is a good news phase, but I have to take that on faith. She sounds terrible, deep lung coughs, raspy, rough, that catch in my throat and hurt just to listen to her. She looks awful, yellow bile on the floor, head hanging down, shoulders hunched. Her big brown eyes look up at me. My heart breaks for her.
Start at the heart,
the beat, in this place and time,
of humility — humanity,
extend the compassion.
She lays on the floor -appetite gone from the meds — while I spoon-feed her the few bitees of yogurt, the only thing she will eat this morning, turning her nose up at spoonfuls of pureed pears, peas, sweet potatoes, and chicken. Her sad eyes look up at me.
Start at the eyes,
place of deepest bonds, extend
the touch, release the breath,
embrace the good.
Now she lies peacefully at my feet, the morning meds kicking in, eyes closed, breathing softly.
Start with the breath,
be a refuge, a conduit for miracles.
As the earth erodes under your feet, this is
an opportunity for humility, humanity, love.
© Christine Salkin Davis, 2017
Originally published at christinesdavisphd.blogspot.com on October 14, 2017.
