I am not very keen on the season of winter. My dislike for it is pretty much akin to almost the level of hatred … almost. Then, last evening, I was reading a book of poetry, entitled “Dog Songs”, by the poet, Mary Oliver, and came across the poem “The Storm (Bear)”. The poem reminded me of our two Great Pyrs, Floydrmoose (a play on Fliedermaus), and Henri. These were two massive dogs who loved the winter weather, especially following snow storms. They would leap and prance and rub themselves in the snow. It was great play for them.
THE STORM (BEAR)
Now through the white orchard my little dog romps, break the new snow with wild feet. Running here running there, excited, hardly able to stop, he leaps, he spins until the white snow is written upon in large, exuberant letters, a long sentence, expressing the pleasures of the body in this world.
Oh, I could not have said it better myself.
(c) Mary Oliver, “Dog Songs”, Penguin Books, New York, New York 10014
Floydrmoose with my son, Luke, and my daughter, Meg.My daughter, Beth’s graduation photo with Floydrmoose.
My grandson, Owen, and baby “Henri”.Henri, 2008
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Deacon Bob
I am a composer, performer, poet, educator, spiritual director, and permanent deacon of the Catholic Church. I just recently retired after 42 years of full-time ministry in the Catholic Church. I continue to serve in the Church part-time. I have been blessed to be united in marriage to my bride, Ruth, since 1974. I am father to four wonderful adult children, and grandfather to five equally wonderful grandchildren. In my lifetime, I have received a B.A. in Music (UST), M.A. in Pastoral Studies (St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, UST), Certified Spiritual Director. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in 1991. Composer, musician, author, poet, educator. The Gospels drive my political choices, hence, leading me toward a more liberal, other-centered politics rather than conservative politics. The great commandment of Jesus to love one another as he has loved us, as well as the criteria he gives in Matthew 25 by which we are to be judged at the end of time directs my actions and thoughts.
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