Nature’s Psychiatrist: The Mourning Dove

 

 

Nature’s Counselor: The Mourning Dove

 

Poem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

As soon as Willow and I walk outside

To meet the early June’s sunrise,

We find the dew, like my heart,

Is heavy.

 

* Stanza 2

 

Suddenly, I hear Mother Nature’s psychiatrist–

The mourning dove–

With his chorus of calming mantras,

“Coo-roo-coo-coo-coo.”

 

* Stanza 3

 

In the midst of all the world has to shout,

In the midst of the unfathomable pandemic,

In the midst of unbelievable grief for a cousin gone too soon and too sadly–

I take the advice of the mourning dove

And calm, calm, calm–

Allow my heavy heart to lighten

In flight with the words and wings of the mourning dove.

 

* Stanza 4

 

The mourning dove I longed to hear for nearly three decades in the city,

but so rarely heard,

Now so frequently sings to me,

soothes me,

Reminds me of calm,

Points to a place of peace

As I walk with Willow to the wooden gazebo,

As I pray at the top step of the chapel,

As we sit midst the geraniums on our front porch,

As I eat in the sunroom,

As I lie in my bed.

“Coo-roo-coo-coo-coo.”

 

* Stanza 5

 

At times, as when I was much younger

At my Blanford home with woods to the south and north of me,

I yearn to echo the mantra of the mourning dove.

I know he will hear and respond to my call.

However, only my heart makes the call;

And always,

During these hard times,

the mourning dove is there–

Here for me–

Just like my dad

Who also loved the mourning dove,

Loved BJ,

Loved all the family,

loved me.

“Coo-roo-coo-coo-coo.”

 

* * *

 

Blessings and peace,

Alice and Leader Dog Willow

 

June 10, 2020, Wednesday