Heavenly Hill
Embrace silence.
Not the sorrow born of isolation,
But the
Serenity born of
Solitude.
-Chuy
Silence
Posted in Chow Zen
Tagged Choices, Chow Dog Zen, Chuy the Wonderdog, Journey, Living, Navigation, Peace, Philosophy, Serenity, Silence
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Reality
Summer Morning
Haven’t you learned this already?
Those things are not real.
The trees, the rain, this trail, me.
These are real.
Ditch that other stuff.
-Chuy
Posted in Chow Zen
Tagged Adventure, Choices, Chow Dog Zen, Chuy the Wonderdog, Journey, Joy, Living, Seeing, The Trail, Wonder
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Waiting Game
Temple
I watched you push your painted, half-filled heart up the hill,
Place it on a staff and wave it high
For all to see.
I saw you stumble when tragedy rent your days
Like sails in the hurricane,
How your knees fell atop your emblazoned flag
And crushed it like a grape.
I felt the pain you carried like a rucksack lashed to your chest.
Saw the way you lifted it in front of your eyes until
You could no longer see the path.
I waited patiently, years perhaps if I knew of time.
Until finally you noticed me.
Watching, feeling, seeing, waiting.
Until you found a place to set down your pack
Long enough for us to climb this hill,
Together.
-Chuy
Posted in Chow Zen
Tagged Caring, Chow Dog Zen, Chuy the Wonderdog, Devotion, Journey, Loss, Patience, Seeing, Sharing, The Trail
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The Lost Time
Sassy June In The Snow
It makes me want to cry, thinking of her, all those years, born and growing in the wrong place.
How could we have known?
As we walked our trails in sun and wind, rain and snow, light and dark. As we shared canned ham and chili dogs and Slim Jims.
As we rode where we pleased, the window open, and you not poking your nose out through it as dogs are supposed to do.
To think she languished in unhappiness as we arrived at the top of Nishan Hill and all the world was beautiful and perfect. Even the thorns that prick us are perfect elements in this perfect world. We drip perfect blood.
The hugs and kisses and “My beautiful boy!” Freedom to come and go and chase rabbits or sleep in a mound of Autumn’s dried leaves.
Where was she as we navigated a thousand walks, two thousand days, four thousand meals, eight trips to the vet? Seventeen stitches and that stupid plastic lampshade and you unable to walk after the vestibular syndrome.
As we both slowed.
Miles and getting there no longer the goal, nor metered and measured allotted times. Living in the right now always and growing closer than even we knew was possible.
It hurts to think of her lonely, scared, or cowering, or treated in any way less than a perfect gift from our Cosmos.
I wonder now if she ever remembers. A family, and children, to which she was bonded no matter the circumstances. I wonder if she thinks of now. I’m hoping now is filled with love and joy and comfort, and let’s leave it at that.
And I wonder if she ever thinks… “All those years.”
–Paz
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Caring, Chow Dog Zen, Journey, Joy, Love, Navigation, Sassy June, The Trail, Time, Treatment
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Stay
Wonderstop
Let’s stay here.
At this intimately familiar bend in the trail.
Beneath these trees we know by name.
We are not compelled to move.
There is no war or fire or calamity or threat that coerces us to flee.
There is not a clock or timer that will sound an alarm if we linger here.
Let’s hold this now.
Treasure its very essence, bury our noses within and inhale deeply.
Savor the scent and the warm and cold, the rough and smooth, dark and light of it all.
Locked onto one another’s gaze.
Touching.
Let’s stay here.
-Chuy
Posted in Along The Trail, Chow Zen
Tagged Caring, Chow Dog Zen, Chuy the Wonderdog, Devotion, Journey, Joy, Living, Loyalty, Sharing, The Trail, Unconditional Love
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Our Time
Chuy the Wonderdog
You wrack your brain seeking words
To describe a life spent without them.
To hold up, canonize, memorialize,
Constructed poems and homespun gems.
You try so hard to commit to memory
All those days of you and me.
Halcyon times, seasons without care,
The past, and trails that lead us there.
You dissect and contemplate.
To behold wonders held within.
To pierce the veil, catch the sun,
To hold the world on which we spin.
Your heart doth grieve, tears shall fall,
And mourning black you’ll wear for years.
When I am now most perfect and free,
I cannot comprehend your tears.
-Chuy
Posted in Chow Zen
Tagged Chow Dog Zen, Chuy the Wonderdog, Dog Boy Zen, Journey, Loss, Love, Parting, Searching, Tears, Time
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Naturally
Chuy Drives The Power Wagon
Many of the laws of Dog Nature can be applied to or interpreted for humans.
Many of the laws of Human Nature could never exist in a dog.
Thankfully.
-Chuy
Posted in Chow Zen
Tagged Caring, Chow Dog Zen, Chuy the Wonderdog, Lessons, Life, Philosophy
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