THE SMELL OF JUNIPER

 

 This morning on my walk I brought Juniper, a dog, along.

I wanted her to see the stars and hear the day’s first song.

I wanted her to enjoy the morning…to hear the night owl croon…

to see the ocean in the stillness of the dark illuminated by the moon.

I wanted her to walk under the trees…feel the grass upon her feet.

and there were a couple of my rabbit friends I wanted her to meet.

I stopped to show her Jupiter and Mars…how beautiful they were.

I even pointed out Sirius…the star named after her.

I tried to show her Orion’s belt and a bunch of stars I knew

(but would be hard-pressed to spell them)

But Junie showed no interest…I imagine because she couldn’t smell them.

We stopped to listen to the owl and some birds up in the trees..

But she was too busy smelling the ground…to show an interest in any of these.

Up ahead I could see my rabbit friends and was excited for Junie to meet them….

but before I could make the introductions she tried to chase and eat them.

And though we took our time…walking deliberately…and slow…

today’s walk did not exactly go…the way I wanted it to go.

All the things I wanted to show her…near as I could tell…

did not interest her in the least…all she wanted to do was smell.

Yes, under a star-filled sky with bird songs wafting on a morning breeze…

Junie was perfectly happy smelling the bushes, the grasses and the trees.

In the end I think we enjoyed our walk for the different senses we both chose

I was happy using my eyes and ears to explore…while Junie used her nose.

Junie smiled as a way to thank me…when walk came to an end…

I smiled back…but was left to wonder….if and when….

my rabbit friends who trusted me…will ever speak to me again.