My paws sink deep into the sands when I canter down to the beach. The breeze feels warm and the seagulls are guarding their young in the distance.
Pearl and I nudge each other and we are off for a run.
John appears from the dunes and waves at our companion. He looks so unhappy since his dog passed away and still does the same walk each morning.
“How are you all doing today?” asks John, reaching into his pocket for biscuits. Pearl and I wag our tails and gently take the biscuits from his hand.
“We’re grand,” says our companion. “How are you?”
“I do not know what the world is coming to,” says John. “I mean, every day there is something else and the media … I mean, don’t get me going on the media.”
Pearl gets a whiff of something and starts digging in the sand.
“I mean, I was reading ‘Map Reading Error’ the other day and you know those lines:
To what degree and by decree
has media come to mean
the metaphysics of the hang man?
We wait, wanting the simple dark again.
That was written in 1976 and it is as if the clocks stopped then because nothing has changed. It might as well have been written today.”
“You are right,” says our companion, “when it comes to any kind of conflict the powers that be seem to revert to old habits that are rarely for the highest good.”
I walk on to have a good sniff myself. These are interesting smells and it is as if some birds have walked here that have not been here before.
When I look up I see our companion’s thoughts wander off to a sun-lit room in Belfast. There are men reading poetry and some speak with a stammer so familiar among people who grew up listening to machine guns.
The clouds start rolling in and we get on our way before the rains come down. John waves us goodbye and stops by the rock as if he is waiting for his dog to follow.
Our companion smiles at us and remembers a poem she wrote that day in Belfast:
For Brendan
You sat in the corner dressed in black,
rose to your feet when I swung through the door,
shook my hand, took my coat,
we both knew we had met before.
Not here, not in this life,
somewhere to the left of your shoulder
where you glanced and waved your hand.
I immediately knew what you meant.
© Xenia Tran
I look up at her and smile. Time exists in so many parallels where clocks are never needed.
I am sending you all so much love,
Eivor xxx
Lines quoted by John from Map Reading Error, a poem by Brendan Hamill from his pamphlet ‘Emigrant Brother’ (1976), Belfast: Lagan Press.
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs taken by Xenia Tran, edited in windows editor.
Camera: Lumix Panasonic FZ38, setting: iA
Daily Prompt: Clock
dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night #181
This is so beautiful. Thanks.
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Thank you so much for your kind words. Much love to you xxx
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Beautiful story and pictures. What good compassionate dogs you and Pearl are, Eivor xxx
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Thank you so much for your kind words Samantha. Much love to you xxx
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Whippet this is exceptional. I love this. You left your comfort zone😁😎 and it is really cool. I long to see more of this. Keep it up😍👍
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Thank you Whitney, we are seeing more the older we get! Much love to you xxx
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Lovely post 🙂 ❤
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Thank you Cathy! Much love to you and Finn xxx
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Eivor–this is beautiful. I hope John finds some peace. Much love to you, too.
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Thank you dear Lois, we hope so too. Much love to you xxx
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Reblogged this on saywhatumean2say and commented:
My time has not yet run out,
though at times i wish it would.
My clock keeps striking the hour and myself. ~~dru~~
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Thank you so much ~~dru~~. Wags and love to you xxx
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Wags and Love back. I spent the weekend watching my sister’s 3 dogs. About 200 lbs of dog in a condo, they make their old auntie dru move. Here is a picture of two of them, not so sleek as yours, but I bet whippet would like the Basenji, his real name is charlie but i call him dingo. I just Love this post. ~~dru~~
https://saywhatumean2say.com/2012/11/25/auntie-sister-drus-dufus-and-dingo/
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Thank you so much ~~dru~~, I am sure these dogs can move! Have you written anything about your walks with them? Much love to you xxx
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Lovely
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Thank you! Much love to you xxx
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Beautiful Whippets having fun photos plus an interesting background story. How quickly the world has turned away from Northern Ireland as the Middle East many parts of Africa, Afghanistan, France, Germany etc etc etc take the headlines day after year
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Thank you so much for your kind words Denis. Belfast is a different city today and the people who lived through the troubles and the poets who continued to write about them will always hold a special place in my heart. We lived in London throughout the IRA bombing campaigns whilst surrounded by Northern Irish in exile and continuously experienced many angles of the same story. Those who run our countries so rarely seem to understand the teachings these conflicts carry within them. Thank you for passing by Denis and much love to you xxx
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Your poetic story and pictures are blend so wonderfully and beautifully captured by your vision and heart. 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind words and for visiting Charlie, have a blessed day :o)
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You are so welcome. 🙂 And you have a blessed day as well. 🙂
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Thank you Charlie :o)
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Lovely Zenia – a true treat for me tonight…. Thank you… With Best Wishes Scott
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Thank you for your kind words Scott, so glad you enjoyed it. Blessings to you :o)
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A tour-de-force, Brilliant!
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Thank you so much for your kind words Tim :o)
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Enjoyed the theme throughout…
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Thank you R.K. :o)
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This is a wonderful view, how great to have a dog’s wisdom to tell us what’s wrong in the world… maybe we need to sniff more…
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Thank you Björn, oh if only we could sniff like they can :o)
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I admire the format of this, the layers, background stories, dialogue and narrations by your sweet dog. A very interesting read indeed. 🙂
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Thank you Mish, I enjoy layering and creating different voices. So glad you found it interesting and many blessings to you xxx
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Very poignant read with much to contemplate…. I loved this particularly……excellent work.
“somewhere to the left of your shoulder
where you glanced and waved your hand”
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Thank you Paul, so glad you enjoyed it :o)
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“Time exists in so many parallels where clocks are never needed.” ~ this is beyond beautiful!
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Thank you so much for your kind words Maria :o)
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Always a pleasure.. 😊
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Beautifully poignant ❤️
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Thank you kindly Sanaa :o)
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Poignant, multilayered, and thought provoking. An evocative read. Belly rubs to your canine teachers and peace and blessings to you, MW
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Thank you for your kind words MW and Pearl & Eivor say a special thank you for the belly rubs :o) Peace and blessings to you too xxx
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💜
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I deeply enjoyed reading this. thank you ~
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Thank you ☺
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As I read, I felt like I was running with the whippets! Beautifully done and I love the poem!
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Thank you so much Kim, so glad you enjoyed the run and the poem! :o) Thank you for visiting and we wish you a blessed evening xxx
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Might see you later at the Quadrille!
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I will swing by tomorrow ☺
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🙂
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This is an interesting and thoughtful post. I enjoyed it.
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Thank you for your kind words Ali, so glad you enjoyed it :o)
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