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Be the dog

Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.  Thoreau’s admonition rings as true today.  As people learn more about Zen teachings, read magazine articles about the simplicity movement and take meditation classes, it appears that sometimes we make even the search for simplicity more complicated than it needs to be.  Jane Eslinger read this poem during the December open mic pointing out an easy model for us to turn to as we seek simplicity in our lives and peace with ourselves.         

Be the Dog

a dog is the best dog he can be

at all times

a dog is sensibly and seriously in the moment

all day and all night

and the next day and the next night

and so on

a dog does not wake up one morning to ask

why am I not a bigger dog?  why not a fox?

nor does he care about his freckled hairless belly

when he rolls on crushed grass deer scent

we are the ones with knowledge

of our certain death

who try harder

who think we fail

let us now celebrate old shoes

find sticks

                              — Jane Eslinger

Wishing you all peace, happiness and poetry in your New Year.  Find sticks.

— Lesley Kimball

"Be the Dog” copyright 2006 by Jane Eslinger.   Jane Eslinger has been working, 

writing, singing and doing origami in Seacoast NH since 1980.  She has found 

many sticks with many dogs, but doesn’t learn much from cats.

Please note: Poems submitted to this column should not exceed nineteen lines.