Poem: Anniversary Aside (for My Four Leader Dogs)

 

 

NOTE: On this World Poetry Day, on this 30^th anniversary of my working with four beloved and amazing Leader Dogs, and in the midst of these most extraordinary times–I share with you the following poem which I wrote this evening in the span of about forty-two minutes before Leader Dog Willow and I went on an anniversary walk. Of course, I will not count the time spent revising and editing this poem which I pondered off and on throughout the earlier hours of this Saturday.

 

 

Anniversary Aside

 

Poem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

 

Quietly, humbly, I show you my tiny grain of sand.

Can you see it? Can you feel it?

I do.

It is between my impeccably clean

Thumb and forefinger,

Where I roll the grain of sand

Back and forth, back and forth–

And I remember brightly and warmly–a little tearfully–

What this grain of sand represents:

My thirty years with four Leader Dogs.

 

Celebration of an anniversary is put aside

To concentrate on the ocean of happenings,

To poise and await a pandemic of patience,

To be alert to the cascade of kindness,

To pray for a preview of coming attractions

Wherein the world will be better, nearly worry-free, and much healthier .

 

Although I live across the boulevard from the Cathedral,

I hear no wedding bells.

Where is the anniversary cake?

Where is the Downton Abbey wine I saved for this day?

Where is the Holy Water?

The baptismal font lies empty–

But, perhaps, there, too, will be found a grain of sand–

Hope.

 

In this grain of hope

Which I touch and cherish,

I hold my treasured memories

Of the blessings of my life–

Four extraordinary Leader Dogs:

Keller, Heather, Zoe, and Willow.

On this 21^st of March,

Three decades after first touching Keller’s harness,

All I need to celebrate

Is my guide-dog memories

And Willow at my side.

 

* * *

 

With wishes that you also will be able to celebrate the grains of sand, wherever you find them!

Count blessings, be kind, and stay well!

Alice and Leader Dog Willow

 

March 21, 2020, Saturday

 

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