a sense of haiku: Tommy

Showing posts with label Tommy. Show all posts

1107. holding court

from the big apple

these guys drop in to say, “hey”

tommy strikes a pose 🦊❤️

I was sitting with Tommy in the early evening. Someone was calling, “Tommy! Tommy”. Three young men came into view and one with a green shirt was still calling, “Tommy!” When he saw him he burst into a huge smile and neared with his buddies. He said he met Tommy this time a year ago when he visited friends here. He said he was from Brooklyn. He was back for his annual visit and wanted his two friends to meet him because of his “magic”. Tommy was perfectly relaxed seeming to remember him. I snapped a photo and sent it along to them, then left them alone for their ”Tommy Time”. 🦊❤️

1106. “tommy?…. tommy?…TOMMY!!”

i find the treasure

over and over again

each time like the first 🦊❤️

Every time I go to visit Tommy the thought goes through my mind, “Will he be here today?” I think of it on two levels. Level 1- will he be at his regular location or will he be out galavanting. Level 2- will he still be “here”, after all he does live outside with other animals and other dangerous situations. When I see his golden glow I’m not ashamed to say I feel happiness and relief. 🦊❤️

1087. lovely lazy daze

just sitting around

a red cat… his red food bowl

lovely lazy days 🦊❤️

These hot and humid days have slowed Tommy down a bit. After all he is probably 14 or 15 years old and like other “oldsters” it is wise to move a little slower when it is so hot. Yet I worry about Tommy because he is not getting any younger and he still must live his life outdoors regardless of the weather. So… every visit with Tommy is a visit in which I enjoy his company… savor the photographic value of what I see… conjure up haiku in my head about him as I pet him. I also closely observe to see if he is doing “ok”. Today’s photo is classic Tommy. 🦊❤️

1080. knowing what you need and getting it

when the sun is high

he lays low and chills in shade

he knows what he needs 🦊❤️

I admire how Tommy takes care of himself. As I hike in the heat of the day I see Tommy tucked under a bush, resting and just being still. He gives me a quick glance then he closes his eyes and continues his chill. Tommy lives on Tommy’s terms. We humans abide by his terms. 🦊❤️

1064. at the day’s end

a red tabby cat

and a warm orange light bulb

waiting for nightfall 🦊❤️

Whenever I visit Tommy in the evenings he is usually pretty tired and I can tell he is ready for some shut eye! Last night the orange glow of the porch light really paired nicely with his beautiful orange/red fur. Night was creeping in… 🦊❤️

1053. siesta

except for twitches

and an occasional sigh

a serene stillness 🦊❤️

Tommy’s life is one of eternal vigilance, always on guard - watching and waiting. But when it’s time to snooze in the noonday sun, no one does it like him. I watch him sleep and am envious of the mirror still body of water that he portrays. I thought about what an important role he plays for me and for so many people by living the life he does in the woods. 🦊❤️

996. eyes of a tiger

not too far from me

there is a wild jungle

eye of the tiger 🦊❤️

“Eye of The Tiger” is thought to be a symbol of strength, confidence, bravery and good fortune, Roman soldiers wore this stone for protection when they went to battle, usually in their breastplates. It was hoped the stone would also give them the strength and patience of an actual tiger. Tommy the Cat has the eyes of a tiger. 🦊❤️

775. tommy and a 50 mile run

2 o’clock a.m.

40 miles done… 10 to go

tommy cheers him on 🦊❤️

My son Kevin ran a 50 mile, over night training run as part of his rehab effort last night. It was a long night of running for him and a long night of hiking and crewing for me. And through the entire night, Tommy kept watch and gave emotional support each and every loop of the run. You can count on Tommy!! 🦊❤️

758. tale of m.i.a tommy

we thought you were lost

spotted so far, far away

little do we know 🦊❤️

During a training run my son Kevin spotted Tommy the trail cat a very long distance from his regular haunt. He tried to have Tommy follow him back but to no avail. After consulting with some other people who help Tommy we determined that it was very, very unusual for him to be so far away from home. Consequently a search ensued until late into the night with flashlights and headlamps but to no avail. All went home. I went to Tommy’s usual location at 3:30am hoping he would be there and a part of me “knew he would be there”. I felt this strange confidence in Tommy’s ability to be “OK” like he was some kind of a “superhero”. Lo and behold, as I approached, the light from my headlamp illuminated two green eyes dashing from the woods to greet me. My heart doesn't leap with joy all too often… but it sure did at that moment. Not only was I grateful to see Tommy, I was overwhelmed with awe at how he is able to negotiate his life so courageously and skillfully. I sat, gave him some food and the world was just perfect. I love you Tommy! 🦊❤️

631. teacher and pet

the teacher is waiting

for the student who’s ready

“i’m the teacher’s pet” 🦊❤️

Tommy has a sizable class of “students” who visit him regularly to receive customized lessons in what they specifically need to learn from him. Personally, I attend his classes in resilience, confidence, assertiveness and relaxation.

On my last report card Tommy said that I was showing improvements… C+ up from a D. I do believe I’m his favorite pupil- “the teacher’s pet”. 🦊❤️

629. tommy knows concrete comfort

such concrete comfort

warmed when cold - cooled when it’s hot

let me rest a bit 🦊❤️

I love laying on sun warmed concrete on a chilly day. I also love laying on cool concrete that has been prepared by the shade on hot summer days. Tommy knows the comfort control qualities of concrete too. 🦊❤️

592. becoming found - part 5 (connection)

it is often said

some things were just meant to be

it just takes some time 🦊❤️

What could be more perfect than Tommy the Trail Cat meeting Moose the Trail Dog? Both abandoned on the trail… both found on the trail… now they are friends on the trail. Things work out in the most perfect of ways. 🦊❤️

(Post inspired by my dear friend Joe C.)

586. inner child thursday #1 (non-dominant hand haiku)

such a cool collar

i’ll wear it without a thought

i can do that 🦊❤️

Today is the first day of a new weekly practice for my “sense of haiku” blog. Every Thursday I will post a haiku that has been written by my “inner child”, Little Danny. I will use my non-dominant hand (left) to allow the haiku to emerge from Little Danny. Regardless of the number of syllables, lines, spelling, etc. - it will be posted as it has emerged. This will be my way of honoring and allowing my “inner child” to become an integral partner in my daily haiku practice. I cannot think of a better first photograph than Tommy in his new collar. Tommy is free and lives life honoring himself first. 🦊❤️

Click on link below for info on non-dominant hand writing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=non+dominant+hand+writing&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

583. doing the next right thing

his life on his terms

he comes… meows… eats… gets petted…

then… the next right thing. 🦊❤️

For Tommy, the next right thing for him to do is always right in front of him waiting to be done, then doing it. Lessons in living life abound in the quiet moments of observing living things (usually not people) just living their lives. 🦊❤️

562. the warrior and the worrier

like a steam shovel

he gobbles up my treats

soon it will be spring 🦊❤️

I worry that Tommy has enough food in his belly in winter to deal with the cold. So I always pack treats. I am a worrier… Tommy is a warrior. When spring comes, I’ll try to be more of a warrior than a worrier. Lol. 🦊❤️

550. “meow ok”

fending for himself

living off stranger’s kindness

he purrs, “we’re ok” 🦊❤️

The other day as I approached Tommy’s home base in the woods, he heard my trekking poles hitting the frozen ground and he came out of hiding to greet me. As he approached me I noticed his eternal vigilance in paying attention to and reacting to even the slightest noises around him (a squirrel, a bird and a falling walnut). Every day spent in paying attention to everything to stay safe and feel safe must be exhausting. I thought about my observations as I petted him as he sat on my lap. I felt a great deal of gratitude and honor that he would be relaxed enough with me to spend time sitting on my lap. In my eyes, Tommy is larger than life. 🦊❤️

497. have a purrfect new year

another year gone

another year on its way

time just purrs along… 🦊❤️

A new year with Tommy the Trail Cat. My hero. 🦊❤️

our christmas wish…

night before christmas

tommy waits for santa too

“meowy christmas all!” 🦊❤️

Our Christmas eve was made special by Tommy the trail cat. We sauntered up to his homestead to wish him christmas cheer and give him a treat. He greeted us, sat with us, gobbled his treat and then simply sat there accepting our loving pets. He looked here and there while sitting under the deep dark blue sky… waiting for santa to arrive. Merry Christmas to all… meow. 🦊❤️