Debra Franke writer/poet/photographer
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Living Like Percy: The Love Of A Dog

May 10, 2018
Living Like Percy: The Love Of A Dog

Love, love, love, says Percy. And run as fast as you can along the shining beach, or the rubble, or the dust. Then, go to sleep. Give up your body heat, your beating heart. Then, trust.  — Mary Oliver

There is something about dogs that makes me want to live to the fullest and love to the fullest, and open my heart to the fullest. Their happy dreamy loving eyes, their warm ‘come-pet-me’ fur, their all-consuming joy in the world and the pure love in their faces. They want you. All of you. You are their person, hands down. They hold no judgement, no questioning, no criticism, no suspicion. They see the best in you, no matter what. You simply arrive, and you have given them everything they want in this world. That’s it. You are theirs, unconditionally.

How to even put language to how a dog relaxes me, calms me, loves me?  Compassion, with a dog, becomes a verb. It’s their light scampering of paws across the floor as they come running at you with race-horse power when you open the door, their skidding when they run so fast they cannot stop themselves on the glossy hardwood, their warm dog smell pushing into your arms on the couch as they sleep, their happy tapping of metal as they eat from their dish, almost faster than the eye can see. Their wet nose pushing into your hand, their tail wagging like a summer fan, their eyes on you during a rainy afternoon or late at night: closing, closing, closing as they slowly fall asleep into doggy dream bliss.

Mostly they are so very alive. Ever tried to hold a dog back on a leash when the most wonderful, uncontainable scent of the world overtakes them? Every smell, every tiny branch, piece of bark, wrapper, curled leaf, spring rain, fresh footprints in soil, snail on a low branch, tree visited by other dogs, mailbox, squirrel. How their ears are alert and perked up, how they prance-run along grass like they are floating above the ground, how their brown-flecked eyes open wide and look at you like “come on!” and their excited yearning forward-pulling energy takes over.

Dogs have the present moment mastered. Mindfulness is the natural skill of the dog. Loving without reserve is their gift. And we can all learn from it. I suspect when the memo came out on loving unconditionally with grace and forgiveness, that dogs got it first.

Will I learn to love and be loved like dogs already know how? Will I learn to ‘love, love, love’ like Percy? Will I learn to be alive and filled with wonder at a tree, a breeze, a drop of rain, the sound of a branch on the roof, a snail? Will I run with all my might and heart towards the things that make me happy?

Someday I will die. And this is the poem I want read at my funeral. The Percy poem. “Love, love, love, says Percy. And run as fast as you can along the shining beach, or the rubble, or the dust. Then, go to sleep. Give up your body heat, your beating heart.” And I hope that while I am still alive, I would pay attention, experience the world with every one of my senses, run along the shining streets after rain and on the beach, like I’ve never ever run before.

There are days for many people, friends of mine and people I have not yet met, who do not see the joy in the world, who want to give up, not live, not be awake. Where they can no longer see reasons for running along a shiny beach, or to love, or to let their heart beat. And I do not pretend to have answers. I know this too is our world and our very sad reality. I too am learning this thing called being alive, being here, being in the midst of love. It’s hard. It’s real. And there have been times for me too when the world called, and I did not want to answer.

I think it will be a lifelong journey and then some. But I know that I can learn so much from a dog. I know that I can be so much more fully present and contented when I am around them, that this can be a starting place, and that Mary Oliver’s final words of this poem are so true and so necessary:

Then, trust.

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7 thoughts on “Living Like Percy: The Love Of A Dog”

  • Rhonda Sittig says:
    May 11, 2018 at 4:04 am

    Love the Percy poem Debra! So much life there. Did you grow up with dogs in the family?? The love shows through… And– are you still in Victoria?? hope all is well… xox

    Reply
    • Away in Autumn says:
      May 12, 2018 at 8:43 pm

      Yes, I grew up always having a dog. I don’t have one now, but love them more each year. There are ways that God loves me dearly, besides people. One is birds, and the other is dogs. And whenever I see dogs while running, they encourage me because they always look so happy, even when I feel so tired. Glad you liked the story, thanks for reading along and commenting! xo

      Reply
  • Sue says:
    January 15, 2020 at 10:28 pm

    This was so lovely – and I am a big Mary Oliver fan also. (Esp ‘The Hermit Crab!’) You deserve to have a dog more than anyone as you appreciate your Bliss so much – I look upon having a dog and sharing one’s life with them to be a true privilege. And I am very pleased to have one again myself. Nicely done, Zebra!!

    Reply
    • Away in Autumn says:
      January 21, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      Hi Sue, thank you so much for these lovely words. I have the Hermit Crab poem forever on my bulletin board, from you! I love it because of you 🙂 Your words about me and Bliss are so kind! I truly hope and want for her to feel lucky to be my dog, as I am SO lucky to be her doggy mama. She is the best thing in the world, and such a happy and loving friend. Yes a true privilege. I am happy for you and Stan too, what fun you will have together! 🙂 xo
      Thanks for commenting here.

      Reply
    • Away in Autumn says:
      May 12, 2020 at 1:18 pm

      Thanks so much Sue for commenting. Do you remember you gave me the Hermit Crab poem once to welcome me to Children’s? I still have it on my bulletin board at work. Thanks for your sweet words about me and Bliss. I love her so! You are right, it’s a true priviledge. How is Stanley doing? xo

      Reply
  • Ron says:
    August 24, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    Beautiful thoughts, beautifully written. As I sit here with one dog curled up on the chair like a cinnamon roll and the other curled up on a pillow in the other room, your thoughts here hit me like a ton of bricks. There really is no other perfect soul full of unconditional love like a pup, and I am so blessed to have these two angels in my life!

    Reply
    • Debra Franke says:
      August 24, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      Thanks for this sweet comment! I have since writing this story gotten a dog — a sweet gentle whippet and I love her like crazy. She has changed my life. I’m so happy to hear about your two sweet beautiful angels. The unconditional love is like no other. Thank you for reading along and for commenting.

      Reply

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I’m so glad you’re here. I’m a writer, poet, and creative, as well as dreamer, runner, and Librarian. I am an advocate for language, voice, and creative storytelling, and anyone facing mental illness, trauma, homelessness, and more. I have my MA (CW and Englist Lit) and my BA Honours in Psychology. I have been published in several Canadian literary magazines and I am working on completed two poetry manuscripts. Click here to find out more.

About Me

Writer/Poet/Creative, Photographer, Librarian, Dog Lover, Taco Enthusiast, and Advocate for those struggling with mental health, homelessness, trauma, and marginalization.

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Thank you for signing up! Feel free to write me anytime, to comment on posts, ask questions, or simply connect. I am so glad you are here.

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Copyright © 2021 Debra Franke

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