ello, haiku! and all goats go to heaven

do you know ello? unless you live under a larger rock than i do, you have probably heard about the start up of this new, simple, ad-free social media site. simple and ad-free are what i’m all about. part of my role as curmudgeon is to hate flashing, intrusive, obnoxious content that i didn’t ask for and don’t want to see. when they ship me off to hell at the end of my life, it will include auto-play videos and sponsored content. so check it out, weasel an invite, and keep ello going.

until they work out a privacy protocol, i’m using ello to post near-daily haiku. here’s an aggregate of what i’ve put there to date:

scarlet leaves like blood
of summer’s ritual death
beauty by demise

…

wide footprints of rain
left on asphalt like the tracks
of great sea creatures

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a dark bark and howl
mother’s dogs hunting in packs
sly fierce coyotes

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lion paws of mist
pouncing up from valley floors
to burn on the hills.

…

who weeps for old goats?
only those who have loved them.
dream deep, my old friend.

…

as you may surmise from the last, my elderly goat, the venerable, sweet, and handsome oak, has reached his end. i delivered him to his terminal vet appointment this morning. he would have been thirteen years old in the spring and he outlived his brother by five years. he’s had some rough patches over the last few years, but kept on ticking. his arthritis has become profound and painful and he stopped thriving about a month ago. he has lost about fifty pounds in that time while eating constantly, as goats do. it’s very, very sad to say goodbye. i’ve known him since i became his mama when he was just two days old. but there’s no doubt in my mind that he hurts and it’s time.

jenny and edward are still lurking around the old homestead, so i’m still in goats until i can find them a forever home. and then? no more goats and truly the end of an era.