William Cowper

So, if you read my very exciting and very long inaugural post, you may remember the sad couplet I composed at the death of my fuzzy lop, Galadriel Elanor Gamgee:

She died and was laid in the grave
She, who we in mem'ry do save.

Well, one of my favorite poets of all time, William Cowper, also had a rabbit.  And he, too, composed a poem in honor of said rabbit after it died.  I think this poem is so funny and adorable at the same time.  Remember when you read it that this was composed by an eighteenth century gentlemanly-type:

( Epitaph on a Hare )

Seriously, tell me that's not the cutest poem EVER!

Cowper was a Christian who suffered from "melancholy"---severe depression.   It ran in his family, apparently.  Anyway, at times he was convinced that he was reprobate, which led to some very sad poetry.  This poem is one of the most tragic works of literature that I have read, but an excellent poem nonetheless.  (BTW:  If the last stanza rings a bell, you may have watched the Ang Lee Sense and Sensibility):

( The Castaway )

That final couplet makes me want to cry. 

But I will not end on such a chillingly sad note.  Cowper was not always so depressed.  He did believe that God is on his throne, and he expressed as much in many wonderful hymns, including my favorite hymn of all time:  

( Light Shining out of Darkness )

William Cowper

So, if you read my very exciting and very long inaugural post, you may remember the sad couplet I composed at the death of my fuzzy lop, Galadriel Elanor Gamgee:

She died and was laid in the grave
She, who we in mem'ry do save.

Well, one of my favorite poets of all time, William Cowper, also had a rabbit.  And he, too, composed a poem in honor of said rabbit after it died.  I think this poem is so funny and adorable at the same time.  Remember when you read it that this was composed by an eighteenth century gentlemanly-type:

( Epitaph on a Hare )

Seriously, tell me that's not the cutest poem EVER!

Cowper was a Christian who suffered from "melancholy"---severe depression.   It ran in his family, apparently.  Anyway, at times he was convinced that he was reprobate, which led to some very sad poetry.  This poem is one of the most tragic works of literature that I have read, but an excellent poem nonetheless.  (BTW:  If the last stanza rings a bell, you may have watched the Ang Lee Sense and Sensibility):

( The Castaway )

That final couplet makes me want to cry. 

But I will not end on such a chillingly sad note.  Cowper was not always so depressed.  He did believe that God is on his throne, and he expressed as much in many wonderful hymns, including my favorite hymn of all time:  

( Light Shining out of Darkness )

Calling all dog experts

So, my loverly labradoodle, Arthur (And if you read my 5 times story on ff.net: yes, I did put my dog in one of my stories.  I couldn't help myself.)  enoys riding in the car, as every good dog should.  He sits in the front, usually.  When we're driving, I'll often pet him with my right hand, or pat him on the back or something (my car's automatic, so I can do that). 

What I want to know is this: Just how mimetic are dogs?  [also, am I using mimetic right?  It's the only word that comes to mind, and I'm too lazy to check.  It makes Arthur sound like an Aristotelian tragedy...haha]  When he sits next to me in the car, he sits in a loungy, relaxed way, and puts one paw across the console, the same way I would maybe put my hand on his head and scratch it if I were relaxed because I was on a really long car ride.  It's very funny, but is he copying me? or am I just anthopomorphizing him?

Calling all dog experts

So, my loverly labradoodle, Arthur (And if you read my 5 times story on ff.net: yes, I did put my dog in one of my stories.  I couldn't help myself.)  enoys riding in the car, as every good dog should.  He sits in the front, usually.  When we're driving, I'll often pet him with my right hand, or pat him on the back or something (my car's automatic, so I can do that). 

What I want to know is this: Just how mimetic are dogs?  [also, am I using mimetic right?  It's the only word that comes to mind, and I'm too lazy to check.  It makes Arthur sound like an Aristotelian tragedy...haha]  When he sits next to me in the car, he sits in a loungy, relaxed way, and puts one paw across the console, the same way I would maybe put my hand on his head and scratch it if I were relaxed because I was on a really long car ride.  It's very funny, but is he copying me? or am I just anthopomorphizing him?