WOODS
by Lelja Hocevar.........................................
WOODS

You are resting in the middle of the woods. I chose it this way because I thought that I owed it to the Nature to give your physical remains back to the roots your ancestors came from. All I wanted was to keep your spirit, whatever comes after, wherever our souls end up or where the last journey takes me, I want your spirit to fly freely until hopefully one day we are reunited again.
Those moments I spent with you Pucky, isolated from the outside world, refusing anyone to join me, my only companion being your sweet doggie friend again taught me so much. Even if you are on your own the woods are never solitary, they are full of whispering sounds and friendly life. I think that in some of us there is still a primeval desire to be unobtrusively left alone within the natural world. With your help and inspiration I was finally able to renew some of my spirit I had lost a year ago. I know that none of us can really pierce in woods' infinite mystery, but if you carefully listen to its hundred voices, especially at night when animal kingdom becomes active scampering for food, you can feel the privilege you have been given by just silently observing the world so different from human's, the world so much older and complete, so perfect but still so vulnerable, because you know that out there there are beings who think differently, they call themselves people, they believe that they are superior to animals, while in reality it is quite opposite. No animal should ever be measured through the eyes of a man and no man should ever forget that animals are gifted with extension of the senses we only wished for but could never attain.
And it is at night when our adorable and most curious foxie emerges from her hidden den and slowly approaches the cottage looking for treats. On rare occasions she let me pet her though recently she has become more cautious and rather haughty. Perhaps because she is going to have a baby and her natural instincts tell her not to trust anyone connected with humans. I do not blame her; I would react the same way. I know she is your constant visitor, I could see her numerous paw prints on your grave. And there are so many other miracles surrounding you, my boy. The walks through the dense forest, where magic lingers in the air, leaving you breathless at times. You can hear squirrels playing, the air is full of that wonderful smell, and you are surrounded with vegetation and fauna I can not even name. You can feel the wind brushing through the trees and carrying with it the scents of indescribable beauty and stillness. It is so peaceful where you are resting, and even after an unexpected close encounter with that majestic animal I realised that there was nothing to be afraid of. I am aware it could have ended more dramatically, but you were right there, weren't you, Puck, as usual following my steps. I could hear your voice threatening him - Go away, this is my mami :)I knew I could always count on you, my most reliable friend. You were always so protective, you were always on guard, making me feel so safe and secure.
I will never forget wonderful moments I spent at your grave. I would sit on that truck and we talked without uttering a word. We were alone, because for some reason only she knows Laika would never join us. At first I was quite startled as she usually follows me everywhere, and I knew she willingly went there with her mommy when she visited you. But not with me, no matter how I tried to persuade her. She just lay on that narrow path, watching me from the distance. I am still confused about her behaviour. Is it you, Puck that you wouldn't allow her to join us or are dogs so extremely sensitive and she feels that deep inside we really wanted to be left alone. I truly believe that she follows some rules of the nature human's mind again can't absorb. I believe it is another mystery, another advantage for animals only.

Pucky, I felt almost primitive joy of being allowed to share with you and other animals the indescribable magic of the place where your body is resting. I have never felt so close to you, there even my never-ending questions searching for certain answers somehow became irrelevant. Thank you, my darling, and to all other animals there for helping me find another dimension of life and for allowing me to be spiritually transported and accepted into that magical scene

Comments would be appreciated by the author, Lelja Hocevar
 
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