Faithful Hearts
Tiny fluff, dependent,
eager, squirming warmth,
soft glances, wet kisses.
a first little one to love.
Four paws following,
guiding, protecting;
a life, loyal,
intrinsically entwined
with ours;
never imagining
the emotional shift
when baby arrives.
Their allegiance
expanding, unwavering.
Faithful hearts
can do no less.
by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, August 11, 2012
This is linked with dVerse Poetics: "The Beautiful Sadness" The challenge is to write about something both beautiful and melancholy. I remember getting my first cat and HOW much I loved him... but when my firstborn arrived... well, definitely the cat was routed to the back seat. I am still a cat lover AND have dogs. Dogs are much more emotional and attuned to their human's needs... and I am amazed how much they continue to give and place us humans first even when animals don't come first in my heart anymore. (I feel so guilty saying that... don't get me wrong... I LOVE animals. :)
26 comments:
I was always, always a dog person, but then I fell in love with a little white rescue cat who is now the light of my life. Who knew that cats could be so sweet and loving?
I have never been a dog person, but the Rottweiler Carl and this poem may change me yet! I love your picture and your word picture of the adaptation of love to bigger yet. Just WOW!
Faithful hearts is a great description!
first...love the pic..just sat here for a moment and enjoyed the peaceful scene... and dogs for sure have a faithful heart.. never had a cat but during my teenage years had a dog and he loved me still in my most terrible times when it seems no one else did.. beautifully penned margaret
As one who loves her kids and her dogs, each in their own measure, these words strike home without further explanation.
Could never imagine the faithfulness of man's best friend in all its fondness. Nicely crafted Marge!
Hank
nice...i feel you in this margaret, how we have to spread love...i think the same struggle comes with multiple kids...maybe more so with the second...the one used to having all the love must share now....
We don't have pets but I can imagine the love you have for your child and your cats and dogs ~ And it becomes more complicated as you have more babies ~
Happy day ~
It's all love, just...different. Cat's are pretty independent and maybe some get a bit jealous but dogs do find their place in the pack, especially if they are loving, they then protect newcomers as part of their pack. My little ten pound Yorkie tries to protect me. Thinks he's a 90 pound German Shepherd. Bless him. But, I can see why as a human, your children would come first and, that's exactly as it should be.
Loved the poem. (and pic) :)
Beautiful poem and picture. Dogs are so giving, aren't they? They do expand their allegiance when new humans enter the scene too...always having more love to give. I enjoyed your poem and your afterword.
Thank you. I knew I'd get a lot of responses from animal lovers :)
I know that when our dogs bond with our children, become their protectors, they just doubled my devotion to them :) I am very thankful.
Awww! This is so sweet!
So heartwarming from the perspective of the family, but beautifully sad from the perspective of the animal who now has to deal with the arrival of a little one. at least this is how it spoke to me! Fascinating and creative take on the prompt and very well crafted
Yes - very heartwarming - and cool take on prompt. I feel like this is a bigger issue with cats somehow but I'm allergic to cats! so don't really know them. k.
really sweet. i love that photo, too. :)
Poems of Heart & Hope: Well... I don't think the dogs ever really realize they are no longer "top dog". Their hearts just expand, always placing their "family" first.
This is a very beautiful piece. I am a dog lover and miss mine so much. It seems no other pet quite touches my heart as they do.
I think in dogs we find the only truly unselfish love on the planet, as you say, accommodating us no matter what, and sometimes no matter how they're neglected(though I know you would never do that)Like they say in DC--if you want a friend, get a dog! Very creative and effective take, Margaret.
My sister-in-law and I were talking about that just yesterday... how our babies always take precedence no matter how close you were to your pet before.
Heart of hearts of course. I still
have far too much empathy to compare the devotion of one over another- it is just different! Thanks.
This is such a great write. I remember bringing my son home and how mad my cat was. She wouldn't come near me for a week.
oh, yes, those four legged friends are like children to us, until we have a two-legged child (smiles) I can definitely relate to this.
This makes me want to run out and get a dog. I'll always remember my childhood dog, Muffin, who knew how to lift my spirits whenever I needed it. Sweet picture and poem.
Precious image for this "beautiful sadness." I love it.
this reminds me of when my daughter had her first child and their six-year-old dog immediately became her protector and playmate. it was so strange to us all when, four years later, neither the dog nor my grandson cared for each other.
loved your writing, Margaret!
♥
This is a lovely poem. :-) Karen
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