r.i.p.: ode to a tiny toad




not only did we find leaves & mushrooms, 

we also happened upon a small shrew, 
dead alas, however still very beautiful, 
so wrapped in a leaf it came back home with us





'I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah'
Leonard Cohen 1934-2016

one morning I noticed this flattened tiny toad
on our path leading up towards the house
suggesting it was one of us who had
trampled him the night before
whilst walking in the dark
not noticing the small critters crossing
from flower-bed to the shelter under the bushes

some shelter, huh,
now he is gone forever

I cried then
and I cried today as I stitched all the small objects onto the cloth
stitched underneath and over his tiny armpits
and maybe I also cried a little for myself and everyone else after a week of upset and turmoil
who knows

I remain hopeful


I am basically an optimist


hallelujah by Jeff Buckley 


Comments

Liz A said…
There have been too many reasons to weep ...
underneath and over his tiny armpits

go listen too to my oh so serious girl crush KD Lang sing it....
Dana said…
Hallelujah brought my tears back to the surface again. I am so sad for us benighted and frightened humans, and all the other life forms we step on in our darkness.
Mo Crow said…
vale small toad a fitting memorial
Julie S said…
i come here via ipad at dawn while drinking my coffee. Today, your beautiful masthead appeared and then the photo of Django at the tree trunk. I felt this big smile creep across my face and my soul. Really!!!

So over the years you have inspired me to watch for critter remains on my walks in the fields and I never find anything!
Saskia said…
yes Liz, whilst reading your comments and browsing in other blogs, I'm listening to 'the Tibetan Book of The Dead' video over at Grace's, comforting & insightful, namasté

thx Grace, I have now listened to several of KD Lang's version and other songs too, beautiful (plus see comment above)

oh Dana, 'and all the other life forms we step on in our darkness' this is exactly what we do

I cannot look away Mo

a smile Julie, well that is more than I could dare to hope for!

jan said…
Oh blimey I know what you mean about things. What a truly hideous year this is. I wil be happy to see it go. Though I fear that the world may get darker.........but Hope, as I must, that I'll be wrong. Peace to you Saskia; and to all X

tungsten

tungsten

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