Surrounded by cypress, the old dog lay.

Surrounded by cypress the old dog gazed

at the circles of branches in the sky.

Surrounded by cypress the old dog knew

it as his last time in the ancient circle of trees.

Surrounded by cypress the old dog watched

his mistress crippled by pain sitting on a

stump safe in the circle with him.

Surrounded by cypress they shared together

the quiet moments of sea, wind , sky and grove.

Surrounded by cypress, the old dog knew

he would always be here near the cypress,

on the rock at sunset near her as she
listened to the sweet song of tree and root,

of rock and grass, of small quiet moments in spring.

Surrounded by cypress the old dog rested into the soft

earth and grass renewed to trudge up the hill

to the home that stood there singing of peace and love.

In Memory of 8-Ball my quiet companion 

who shared for 14 years my meditations

of sea, rock and tree.  Janice DeRuiter Eskridge 2016