breathe deep the water
a soldier paces, back and forth, along the quiet shore; his brow is furrowed, his handsome face careworn. the peaceful setting provides little calm and comfort; his thoughts are heavy and he is anguished. the water is still and crystal clear, so clear, in fact, that i can see the delicate fleur de lis embossed upon the brass buttons of his uniform. these, along with thick, gold braid, adorn his charcoal gray wool coat. he is handsome and dashing in his finery but his posture conveys no pride, only seriousness and concern.
he is torn between duty and desire. he possesses the spirit of an artist, a dreamer, but his commission, his sentence, dictates that he must fulfill his obligation. so he crushes the sand underfoot , and attempts to focus on his responsibilities. death is the task at hand. my world, while constantly changing, lacks the shallow motives of his. yes, there is loss and sacrifice - something must die so that something may live. but envy, contempt these are man’s emotions and they go hand in hand with the burden of his self appointed dominion.
i glide through my lovely world that kisses the edge of land yet seems so apart. he is mine, however, as much a part of me now as any of the life sustaining elements i depend upon. after squaring his shoulders in brave resolve ,he turns on his heel and is gone. i cannot follow but remain as close to this shoreline as the currents allow. the temperature and light play ; the creatures conduct their various shift changes - and wait.
hours pass and just as the sun has dipped below the treetops i sense his presence. still i cannot see him but i know he is returning. the golden-red glow of sunset gives way to the full and silvery moon. this cool, quiet light reveals my soldier shuffling along the sand. his head is bowed, arms loose at his sides; a feeling of darkest despair has permeated his soul. from the shallows i see clearly his harried face, his bloodied hands, his torment. this gentle creature was not made for the petty conquests of mankind.
he enters the water and attempts to cleanse the mortal evidence from his hands. he is trembling and tears flow freely, blending with the briny surf. he walks on , deeper still and the weight of his uniform is cumbersome as the thick wool absorbs the water. without hesitation he begins to shed layer after layer of thick, wet cloth. coat, boots and britches all set adrift until he is as naked as the days and nights he floated in the protective sea of his mother’s womb. he can no longer touch bottom but he does not panic, instead a sense of peace and serenity has replaced some of the anguish he felt just moments before and he glides slowly and gracefully towards open water.
a tiny smile plays at the corners of his mouth and he assumes that his wits have escaped him. he feels no fear, only a sense of calm and empowerment as he becomes more at one with the water. he is, in fact, undergoing a wondrous change, one that i am fully aware of as i have played a part in its coming about. i love him, and to love a man is know his dreams. i have been a part of his dreams for a very long time and i watch now as he surrenders to the coaxing waves with a sense of homecoming. the full, silver moon smiles down upon us and i draw power from her, enough to reach out to my soldier, my mate. i enfold him in my arms and he is unaware still that this is not his dream as his head slips beneath the surface and he returns my embrace.
prevention is kinder than destruction. each year over six million healthy dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are killed as surplus. remember: neuter, spay and don't let them stray!