The Meaning of Life

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by Nancy Fitzgerald

There is a moment just before
a dog vomits when its stomach
heaves dry, pumping what's deep
inside the belly to the mouth.
If you are fast you can grab
her by the collar and shove her
out the door, avoid the slimy bile,
hunks of half chewed food
from landing on the floor.
You must be quick, decisive,
controlled, and if you miss
the cue and the dog erupts
en route, you must forgive
her quickly and give yourself
to scrubbing up the mess.

Most of what I have learned
in life leads back to this.


please note: photo by Sheri Van Wert

Comments

  1. LydiaSeptember 21, 2009 at 2:26 AM

    OK, yup. There you go. That's it: my life in a nutshell. Except you need to add the part about cats urping up furballs for the full picture.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownSeptember 21, 2009 at 3:11 AM

    Exactly..., because those are on the steps leading to the door one is trying to get the dog through. Didn't want to distress any sensitive stomachs this early:>)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Batteson.IndSeptember 21, 2009 at 3:34 AM

    hahaah!.. You're coming up with some stunners this week!... It's the noise I particularly enjoy.. that deep rumbling retch that sounds like a truck rolling in the distance... mmmmm..

    ReplyDelete
  4. RudeeSeptember 21, 2009 at 5:30 AM

    If only all of life's messiness were so easily cleaned

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownSeptember 21, 2009 at 8:17 AM

    Well in the end...it all comes down to what is going in or coming out...right? smiles...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Viewtiful_JustinSeptember 21, 2009 at 11:07 AM

    Perfect, succinct, and beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RNSeptember 21, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    Nurses have the most interesting table talk, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  8. robertSeptember 21, 2009 at 5:07 PM

    Sometimes it's nearly the same with small kids...

    ReplyDelete
  9. HelenaSeptember 22, 2009 at 12:46 PM

    Brilliant! I find it applies to cats as well. That dry heave is almost as scary as them furballing. I usually get them outside, but thankfully they don't puke often!

    ReplyDelete

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Hey, thanks for your thoughts and your time:>)

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