Our family dog Bud–now departed–would often spend hours lying beside the pond where he would observe our resident frog, turtle, and goldfish. His eyes told me all I needed to know–that he was feeling the deep joy and love for all living things that we often feel, when we allow ourselves to leave our cars, work, and homes behind for the great outdoors. We miss him still. He died in the spring of 2005. Two of the three haiku captions are, of course, written from what I imagined would have been his inexpressible observations and feelings.
Two curious souls
Face each other, and wonder–
Is this mindfulness?
Goldfish–once timid–
Swim across the reflection
Of his smiling face.
Basking on a rock—
Turtle eyes his reflection
Then plays hide and seek.
Peggy Pilkey 