{"id":3534,"date":"2018-10-02T06:07:19","date_gmt":"2018-10-02T11:07:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/?p=3534"},"modified":"2018-10-02T06:07:19","modified_gmt":"2018-10-02T11:07:19","slug":"rocco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/rocco\/","title":{"rendered":"October Fest – Morning Walk with Rocco"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h1>\n

<\/h1>\n

<\/h1>\n

October Fest\u00a0 – #2<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In honor of my literary celebration of October Fest, <\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

I am sharing a poem ~<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

“Morning Walk with Rocco,”<\/em><\/h3>\n

Post #205<\/p>\n

I wrote this poem after completing a 3-mile walk with my little dog, Rocco MO Rocco. He came to live with Bob & me after I lost my sight.<\/p>\n

Because of my intense teaching\u00a0 and travel schedules, we did not have a dog for\u00a0 EIGHTEEN YEARS. Now that I was retired, it was time to find a little dog for us to love. Our daughter Salome’ came to our home, and she began to search for a dog that would be the perfect dog for Bob and me. That Sunday afternoon with Salome’ at the computer was such an exciting time for us all. We were giddy with joy at the thought of having a dog in our home again. We love animals and now, I could be home to take care of a dog.<\/p>\n

I heard them say,<\/p>\n

“Oh, this one looks\u00a0 like the perfect dog. His name is Rocco.<\/p>\n

Yes, Rocco is the one for us. We will call the shelter and let them know, we want Rocco!”<\/p>\n

That was it. When we saw the photo of Rocco, it\u00a0 was love at first sight – from the photo on the website.<\/p>\n

This precious senior dog was in a shelter where he had been waiting for a forever home for over 6 months. Rocco\u00a0 became my eyes and my heart, in January 2009, when we brought him home from the shelter.<\/p>\n

I dedicate this poem to the Lawrence County Humane Shelter, <\/strong><\/h3>\n

New Castle, PA.\u00a0Adopt a Friend – Click Here!<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is the place where we found our little boy waiting for his forever home.<\/em><\/h4>\n
\n

“Morning Walk with Rocco”<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little black dog shivers<\/p>\n

leaps with excitement<\/p>\n

I attach his black vest<\/p>\n

for our morning walk.<\/p>\n

I say, \u201csit down,\u201d but he cannot<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally, ready to go<\/p>\n

out \u00a0kitchen door.<\/p>\n

silky black dog, black vest, red leather leash<\/p>\n

he dances across the wooden porch<\/p>\n

scurries down stone stairs.<\/p>\n

bushy waterfall tail streams down<\/p>\n

like a trailing skirt of silk threads.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

our feet move in silence<\/p>\n

down the rural road<\/p>\n

early sunrise to our backs<\/p>\n

white Reeboks and fur-padded slipper-feet<\/p>\n

ears erect, pink tongue tasting the morning<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The first mile is all uphill<\/p>\n

I look at him often<\/p>\n

he is not a young dog<\/p>\n

extra pounds around his middle<\/p>\n

like mine<\/p>\n

sturdy, resolute, faithful<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We change direction.<\/p>\n

glance at newly-plowed fields<\/p>\n

familiar fields I watched<\/p>\n

when I was a schoolgirl<\/p>\n

walking the mile-long path home<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

we complete the second mile<\/p>\n

pause at railroad tracks where<\/p>\n

I used to lay a penny on the rail<\/p>\n

copper coins became sacred mandalas<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The final stretch<\/p>\n

beside rushing waters<\/p>\n

crooked creek runs fast<\/p>\n

stop to breathe sweet scents<\/p>\n

tangles of green honeysuckle vines<\/p>\n

red-winged blackbirds sing<\/p>\n

wild ducks paddle in circles<\/p>\n

rushing water, locust trees, pines<\/p>\n

pale blue morning glories<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My dog tugs at the end of his leash<\/p>\n

moves to the middle of the road<\/p>\n

I bring him back to my side<\/p>\n

where he is safe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His ears no longer stand tall<\/p>\n

tail is relaxed<\/p>\n

breath comes faster<\/p>\n

we walk directly into the sunshine<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My hand shelters my eyes.<\/p>\n

from glare of the rising sun<\/p>\n

we completed our 3-mile circle<\/p>\n

back through the woods<\/p>\n

we seek the shade of tall oak trees<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My dog picks up the pace<\/p>\n

his ears point towards home<\/p>\n

at the gravel pathway<\/p>\n

I remove his vest and leash.<\/p>\n

he dashes to the door of our house<\/p>\n

bounces against me<\/p>\n

inside, it is cool,<\/p>\n

he runs to his bowl of fresh water<\/p>\n

our morning walk, complete.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

In loving memory of Rocco, the Shelti-Pom shelter-dog who brightened my life and became my eyes from 2009 \u2013 2014.\u00a0 I will carry you in my heart forever, dear boy.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
October Fest posts are\u00a0 written and published by Lynda McKinney Lambert, Copyright, 2018.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Leave a comment for me.<\/h2>\n

E-mail:\u00a0 llambert@zoominternet.net<\/a><\/p>\n

Blog and website at:\u00a0 www.lyndalambert.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Author\u2019s Page: http:\/\/www.dldbookslcom\/lyndalaambert<\/a><\/p>\n

My books on Amazon:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

Walking by Inner Vision: Stories & Poems<\/em>:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>See my newest book..click here.<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

\u00a0Our truest life is when we are in our dreams \u2013 awake. Henry David Thoreau<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania author, Lynda McKinney Lambert, writes a poem about adopting a shelter dog in this second post on her Literary October Fest series. <\/p>\n Continue reading →<\/span><\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trusting-god"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s4gbwn-rocco","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":103,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/learning-life-lessons-from-your-dog\/","url_meta":{"origin":3534,"position":0},"title":"Lynda’s Journal – Life Lessons From Your Dog","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"May 15, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"When I lost my vision in October 2007, I lost my career in academia. I was a college professor. I had gone through the Personal Adjustment to Blindness program, a fifteen week in-residence experience at the Blind and Vision Rehabilitation School, Homewood, PA. I lived there on the campus for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":207,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/the-snow-bunnies-a-wintry-tale\/","url_meta":{"origin":3534,"position":1},"title":"The Snow Bunnies: A Wintry Tale","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"December 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The Snow Bunnies: A Wintry Tale by Lynda McKinney Lambert \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In the early morning, dusky lavender light seems to flow into the kitchen when I open the door. \u00a0Our two dogs are accustomed to going outside before daylight for the early morning walk along the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"GE DIGITAL CAMERA","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/2013_SledRidingBackYard-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14882,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/from-the-professors-journal-a-wintry-tale-memoir\/","url_meta":{"origin":3534,"position":2},"title":"Lynda’s Journal: A Wintry Tale (memoir)","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"September 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Lynda\u2019s Journal\u00a0 \u2013 \u00a0 \"A Wintry Tale\" (memoir) by Lynda McKinney Lambert Lynda launched, \u201cWalking by Inner Vision Blog\u201d December 2009. \u00a0 BREAKING NEWS TODAY: A Wintry Tale Published:\u00a0 (Memoir) by Magnets & Ladders: Active voices of\u00a0 writers with Disabilities. \u00a0Fall\/Winter\u00a0 Edition, 2023-24 \u00a0 A WINTRY TALE, MEMOIR BY\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cover of first snow - chapbook","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/COVER_First-Snow_Lambert_Lynda_COV_EM.jpg?fit=776%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/COVER_First-Snow_Lambert_Lynda_COV_EM.jpg?fit=776%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/COVER_First-Snow_Lambert_Lynda_COV_EM.jpg?fit=776%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/COVER_First-Snow_Lambert_Lynda_COV_EM.jpg?fit=776%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13076,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/from-lyndas-journal-pantone-post-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":3534,"position":3},"title":"Lynda’s Journal – Pantone Post Cards","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"September 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Lynda\u2019s Journal by Lynda McKinney Lambert September 22, 2024 Welcome to Colorful Autumn I begin to create this week's post cards. I will mail them, one-a-day,\u00a0 to Carol Farnsworth, in Ada, Michigan. \u00a0 Today,\u00a0 I am working this week on Pantone Color cards. I discovered\u00a0 these cards at Dick Blick\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Art"","block_context":{"text":"#Art","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Pantone_Seld-Portrait_Sept_22-211x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":102,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/organization-makes-sense-to-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":3534,"position":4},"title":"Lynda Recommends – Careful Organization","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"May 22, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Pennsylvania author, Lynda McKinney Lambert, share her decade-long view of how to organize her writing space. She shares photos her work space from 2010 and 2019. She talks about how to organize a space that helps to organize her writing life.","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/DSC09259-2.jpg?fit=959%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/DSC09259-2.jpg?fit=959%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/DSC09259-2.jpg?fit=959%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/DSC09259-2.jpg?fit=959%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3543,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wyoming\/","url_meta":{"origin":3534,"position":5},"title":"October Fest – #4 –","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"October 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Pennsylvania Author, Lynda McKinney Lambert, shares a poem she wrote in 1991 as she traveled by car with her husband, Bob, across the United States from western PA to California. this poem was written from her journal entries on that trip - as they crossed the state of Wyoming.","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lynda with tray of Birthday Cupcakes","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18_Lynda-57tha-3.jpg?fit=795%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18_Lynda-57tha-3.jpg?fit=795%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18_Lynda-57tha-3.jpg?fit=795%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18_Lynda-57tha-3.jpg?fit=795%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3534"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3540,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3534\/revisions\/3540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}