ch. 10, v.1-20 (melting of the snows)

*warning: some content of this posting may not be appropriate for viewers over 7 years of age.



You see, my companion, how the prescient hand of March
Begins now to draw back the cover of snow and reveals once more
To the sight of your eye and the scent of my muzzle the bed of the earth.




The fruits and limbs fallen with autumn's blow become a nursery
To the generation now germinating beyond our perception.

But beware, my companion, the treachery of this mosaic,
For it is also a subtle camouflage that does play a trick upon your eye.
Place with care each step of your foot as you make the path to collect my deposits,
For hidden here are cryptic and innumerable snares.




Nay, not all puppies of humans track with such devotion the leavings of their canines.
These neighbors do cast aside their eyes and see not that which they know.
They say unto themselves, "I shall not bow down to the labor of this retrieval,
Nor burden my hand with the transformations of kibble and biscuits,
For shall not the precipitations of the sky like sorcery make these remnants
Vanish unto nothingness?"




So they do tell themselves a tale of foolishness,
And make wishes against the legislation of physics.
Thus your path you must choose with caution, my companion,
For now the relics of many a canine digestive tract
Do threaten the tread of your deeply molded shoe.




Exegesis and commentary
My apologies to those of you with delicate sensibilities. Sadly, Frida's chastising verses address a too prevalent winter problem that spring makes apparent.

So, not only is it a hassle that, once winter comes, even more dog walkers seem to think it's okay not to pick up after their dogs, but then in the spring, when all of these cryogenicly preserved creations become evident, those of us who will cross muddy fields to pick up after our canine friends are all too likely to step in a poopmine. It is especially challenging in the early spring, when rotting leaves, sticks, mud, pine cones, etc., can be very hard to distinguish from snow-pickled turds.





Looks like a dropping:


But, on closer inspection, we discover decaying bark:


And who can blame the people who like to use the parks and don't have dogs for wishing all the dog walkers would go away? Really, those of you (and you know who you are) who pretend you don't see that your dog is pooping or want to believe that the rain or snow will just make it vanish (poof!), stop kidding yourselves and just pick the turds up. You're just making it that much harder to have a dog-friendly neighborhood.

ch.7, v.37-60 (the sickness)

The fires of physic have subsided and healing advances tenderly
As like a new generation of sprouted seeds sprung from a scorched earth.

We know not yet what each day brings unto us,
For some advance like the tired limbs of elder canines,
Determined but easily tempted to the restful rest of napping,
While others may awake with the burst of the puppy unable to remain abed with the rays of the sun upon its too soft face.

Yea, in wisdom we observe the end of the fires with walks upon the shores of fresh waters,
Wherein I wade and refresh my hide and many dogs also are wildly at play,
And with us walk the puppies of humans who make wild play upon the paths and upon the benches.







We take our perambulations in the warm company of good companions
--And, behold, these three have journeyed from far in the west--
Like a branch of the tree of the arbor that is our pack extended,
It bends its way back unto us for uplift in the days of healing.


Walk with me, small human who is brave and forthright,
Into the waters of the pond of jamaica.
Mind not the wetness of these superfluous fabrics,
For they shall dry in the light of this day's sun.




Nap with us, wise sire,
And be blessed with the armful of fluffy toys that are as sheep,
But beware the exuberance of your puppy
For your respite is but a plaything, a trampoline for her puppyish energy,
For to her the world is but all a wonder,
As much to be consumed upside down
As right side up.




Exegesis and Commentary
This was the end of August, and truly the most challenging parts of treatment seem to be over, and now recuperation is underway. A visit from Ann Arbor, with Rosie and Jon and Zoe, was a highlight of the time, and Frida had several of the extra and extra-long walks that typically come when I have visitors and extra days off from work. So the first was to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, near where SK and Big D live, with Leah and Isaac; Fresh Pond has an official off-leash dog play area that includes this wonderful little side pond. Highly recommended for dogwalkers in the Boston area.

Jamaica Pond doesn't include any official off-leash dog areas, but this spot near the "dog bowl" is the unofficial canine swimming hole. It's where Frida frequently takes her summer evening wade, and this time Zoe joined her, quite determined to go in as far as she could--maybe a bit to her parents' consternation. My parents, on the other hand, were happy with a bench in the sun.

ch.7, v.25-36 (the sickness)

An embarrassment of johnnies.

Yea, tho' it is the way of the pestilence to proliferate in numbers innumerable,
Tho' the fervent myrmidons of its genealogy escape the naked sight of the eye of the human,
Yea, tho' they thus seek to abound in the tissues and vessels of my companion's body,
A succor no less mighty and determined enlists to the aid of our pack.

Let these my verses praise the clan combined of beth israel and deaconness,
The tools and arts of healing great in both gentleness and fight.

Let me praise also the gifts of the hand and words of the mouth of these,
The members of our extended pack, some who journey from across many blocks of city, or many states of the land,
To offer comfort and sustenance in these days leaden with fatigue.

Unto their exaltation, we make with the cycle of each moon a celebration,
With feasting upon the bounty of the land and the fizziness of the vine,
And with the napping upon pretty feet.

June: brunch on Forest Hills Street






July: O bday at the MFA




Marcia's dessert made it into this picture, but not Marcia.

At home later with Julia and Roberta



Wanna see Roberta on her visit? Watch the feature film.


August: party boat at JP Seafood








Exegesis and Commentary
Hmmm, I feel the need to apologize at least a little for this blog. I suspect I was motivated in its composition less by a genuine desire to convey a Frida-eye-view of the world and more by my own desire to offer thanks to the many friends who have given their support of all sorts of the last five months. But, if you'll bear with this rare lapse in my apostolic charge, there is at least the nice video of Frida to enjoy.

ch.4, v.1-20 (visitors at midwinter)

Strange patterns come upon us as the sun approaches and surpasses its winter stand.
Karen Who Is Tall fills once again her satchels for a voyage and departs,
With her the poodle who bears now a heavy coat of wool upon her hide.
My companion obtains a reprieve from her diurnal absence and keeps council in the den
Or together we inspect the paths of our snow-bound territory.







She performs only short excursions alone
Returning sometimes perfumed with strange fragrances.
The spoors of grandhumans are about her
And once the aromas of duck and cattle, of ginger tamarind
And other spices of lands far beyond both the rising and the setting of the sun.




In the deepest recesses of a night, travelers break our solitude--
Two pilgrims whose odor is known to me and one that is new but welcome.
I luxuriate in this good company--it is generous of praises and rubs for my belly.
They fill up the beds of our den and warm its air with the livingness of their bodies.
The pack grows.

We make many and unusual excursions together
Unto the new den of the grandhumans and
Unto the public house known as brendan behan
Where hospitable canines congregate upon the worn timber of the floor
While their humans grow relaxed with goodly libation.





Should not our days be always thus, my companion?

Exegesis and Commentary This is obviously Frida's take on the recent and unusual events of Christmas break, which were a welcome break from the usual routine for both of us. Since the MHS now closes from Xmas to New Year's, I was able to stay home much of the time, and have many more dog walks before the sun went down at the absurdly early hour of about 4pm.

Since neither of my brothers was able to make it to Massachusetts for Xmas day, my parents and I opted for a traditional Jewish Xmas with Marcia in Brookline, tho' we never made it to the movie portion of the day once the Chinese food indulgence was over (actually, I watched the DVD of the new biopic about Edith Piaf and regretted it--what is this French fascination with and glamorizing of women who are damaged and wildly self-destructive?).

At the very end of Xmas day Edmond arrived with Sibel and her son Eren, and Frida was very happy with their company. One evening at the Brendan Behan, where they allow dogs b/c they don't serve any food, was especially good. Oh, for a world where the faithful and well-behaved hound could follow one everywhere.