Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: The Metaphor and the Chameleon https://anchor.fm/john-bartels/episodes/The-Metaphor-and-the-Chameleon-e20kaq1
The Metaphor and the Chameleon
Animal story
Sad News: Dear Kiera passed on at 5am today – See her last poem below
Please scroll right to the end as you read. Thank you.
RIP Kiera Cariad (Hera)
26.5.2012 Romania – 28.2.2023 England
KIERA’S LAST POEM
I sense the touch of cosmic wings
And hear these words, an angel sings…
“We are calling,
Calling you home “….
I am falling, falling
But not alone.
An Angel waits now by my side
Smiling too, she is my guide
I seem to awaken
Then gently taken….
Then up and away we fly
Passed the stars
Beyond the sky
Round the moon
Then through the sun
And there I see
The Holy One..
Arms outstretched
Greeting me………
But I’m a dog
This can’t be?
I had to gasp
I was surprised….
“ALL ARE EQUAL
WHO HAVE DIED
COME TO ME
MY DEAREST ONE
YOUR JOB ON EARTH
HAS BEEN WELL DONE”.
……Gently, drifting bathed in light
……Warm and cosy so ‘Good Night’.
End
Read Kiera’s amazing story here.
More Addo Magic 26 February 2023
Photographer A Hannington with Nikon P900
Addo – Another Interesting Visit 26 February 2023
Kiera is fighting the good fight despite her illness.
What an inspiration dear Kiera is to us all. What a lesson she has gifted us with that love lasts for ever and enfolds us all. Anna has given me permission to post the latest news about Kiera and to post Kiera’s most recent poem to us all. The whole creation groans and awaits redemption. Redemption will come for the whole of creation. That is for certain. Please scroll down right to the poem.
Anna’s message and pictures and Kiera’s poem. What a beautiful gift and inspiration….
Re yesterday’s post and Kiera’s poem….she is very quiet and breathless this morning but still with us. Thankyou all for your wonderfully supportive comments. We can feel all the love coming our way and I am convinced it helps. Xx
Kiera speaks again…..
It seems she is now very consciously preparing for her transition….
Remember me on this day
Please take note of what I say…
I can no longer manage walks
But still enjoy our little talks…
Sitting now by the fire
I wish to share what will inspire….
CHERISH IN NATURE ALL YOU SEE
EVERY FLOWER AND EVERY TREE
ALL THE CREATURES LARGE AND SMALL
GIVE YOUR LOVE TO THEM ALL.
Then wait and see
How you will be….
And when at last,
I have ‘passed’
That sudden tap on your face..
Those special arms that embrace
Will be Nature’s Blessing…
Her healing caressing….
And in the timeless zone of mist,
I will come and share a kiss..
I’ll wing my way o’er cloud and sea
And you’ll recognize its me.
For this is knowledge all must know
Rainbow Bridge goes to AND fro.
The Owl and the Rabbits: The Golden Rule*
Once upon a time, there was a wise old owl named Mary who lived in Richmond Park in London. One day, Mary gathered the rabbit family and explained to them the importance of the “golden rule.”
Mary told them that the golden rule is a principle that says “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.” She said that this is important because it means being kind, respectful, and fair to others.
She also added that when we treat others the way we would like to be treated, it makes everyone feel good and happy. And when we don’t follow the golden rule, it can cause problems and fights.
The rabbits listened to Mary and they understood the importance of following the golden rule. They realized that by treating others with kindness and respect, they could make the whole community a better and happier place. From that day on, the rabbits always followed the golden rule and lived in peace and harmony with the other animals in Richmond Park.
*Story created by AI with iteration
Beloved Kiera is unwell -A Special Edition Blog – Two Poems
Note: Kiera is unwell at present having suffered a stroke. She is safe in the loving hands of Anna and Rosanne. Below are two poems by Kiera sent to me by Anna. In the first poem Kiera laments the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll and at the same time pays homage to her late Majesty’s great love of animals. In the second poem, communicated a few days ago to Anna, Kiera bravely faces her own mortality and encourages us to believe that love goes on for ever.
A Tribute to Her Late Majesty
A tribute to our dear late Queen Elizabeth
By Kiera
Our Queen has died
This makes me sad…
I would have had
Such gentle strokes
For she was kind
Such love from her
I would find
A Royal kiss
She would place
Right upon
My furry face
I think on me
She would dote
Her gentle hand
Would stroke my coat
Of all this
I am sure
She was Queen
Her word was law..
She loved us all
This I know
It’s sad to learn
She had to go..
It’s the end
Of her reign
I’m just a dog
But feel the pain
I need to say
One more thing,
Welcome Charles
Our new King!!
Kiera – A Reflection
“Go free”, I heard
“It’s your choice”
But the sound of your voice
I had one paw on Rainbow Bridge,
Then two…
But I turned
And looked at you….
Your moistened eyes
And soft goodbyes
So touched my heart
I could not part
Not this night…..
The yonder light
Began to fade
And so I stayed….
Such love and healing
Has left me feeling
Renewed in strength
Until at length
I had no pain
And breathed again.
But love is constant, has no end
Remember this, my dear Friend…
My time will come and when it does
It will be right for both of us.
Over 2000 people have read the story of how Kiera came to England from Romania Click here to read the amazing story.
For other blogs about Kiera search the blog for “Kiera”.
The Owl and the Rabbits: Fast vs Slow*
Once upon a time, in a forest, there was a wise old owl named Mary. All the animals in the forest would come to her for advice and guidance.
One day, a group of young bunnies came to Mary and asked her to tell them a story. Mary thought for a moment. She remembered a story a wise man called Aesop told her. Mary began to speak.
“Once upon a time, there was a rabbit named Speedy and a turtle named Slowpoke,” she said. “Speedy was very fast and loved to brag about how fast he could run. Slowpoke, on the other hand, was slow but steady.
One day, Speedy decided to challenge Slowpoke to a race. He laughed and said, ‘There’s no way you can win, you’re too slow!’ But Slowpoke accepted the challenge.
The day of the race arrived and Speedy took off quickly, leaving Slowpoke behind. But Speedy got too confident and took a nap during the race. When he woke up, he saw Slowpoke crossing the finish line first.
The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race. Don’t be like Speedy and brag all the time. Instead, be like Slowpoke and work hard and you will be successful in the end.”
The young bunnies were very impressed and thanked Mary for the story. From that day on, they remembered the story of Speedy and Slowpoke and worked hard to achieve their goals.
*Story created using AI with iteration
The Owl and the Rabbits: Comparing with Others*
Once upon a time, there was a wise old owl named Mary who lived in a big park called Richmond Park in London. One day, there was a big snowstorm and it was hard for all the animals to find food and stay warm. Mary knew that everyone had to work together to survive.
The foxes knew how to find food in the snow and they taught the rabbits. The rabbits knew how to make shelters to stay warm and they taught the foxes. Together, they were able to survive the storm.
Mary saw that some of the rabbits were feeling bad because they weren’t as good at hunting as the foxes. So, she taught the rabbits that everyone has different talents and it’s important to focus on what you’re good at and not compare yourself to others.
She also said that comparing yourself to others is not a good idea because everyone has their own struggles and it’s not fair to compare yourself based on what you see on the outside. She taught them to focus on their own progress and growth and to be proud of themselves for their own accomplishments no matter how small.
The rabbits listened to Mary and they stopped comparing themselves to the foxes and others. They focused on being the best version of themselves and being helpful to others. From that day on, all the animals in Richmond Park, London worked together and were happy. And Mary the wise owl was always there to guide them and remind them to treat themselves and others with kindness and respect.
*Story generated using AI
The Owl and the Rabbits*
The Owl and the Rabbits of Richmond Park in London
Once upon a time, there was a wise old owl named Mary who lived in Richmond Park. She had lived there for many years and had seen many things come and go. One day, she noticed that the rabbit family who lived nearby were having trouble finding food. The rabbits were small and not very fast, so they couldn’t catch their own food like the bigger animals could.
Mary, the wise owl, knew she had to help the rabbit family, so she went to speak with them. When they first met, Mary told the rabbits that the most important rule in life was to treat other animals just like they would like to be treated. She called it the golden rule.
She taught the rabbits how to better use their ears to listen for the sound of the plants growing underground. This way, they could find the freshest and most nutritious plants to eat. She also taught them how to better use their noses to smell for predators, so they could stay safe.
The rabbits followed Mary’s advice, and soon they were thriving. They had plenty of food and were able to live in peace and safety in Richmond Park.
But one day, a sly fox frightened the rabbits as he was hunting them, the rabbits were not aware of the fox’s presence and were caught off guard. The fox was almost able to catch a few of the young rabbits before they could run away. Mary, seeing the commotion, flew down to the scene and chased the fox away.
Mary then gathered the shivering rabbits and reminded them of the importance of staying alert and being aware of their surroundings at all times, especially when predators are around. She also reminded them of the golden rule, that they must always treat other animals just as they would like to be treated and to look out for one another. Little did they realise how important that rule would turn out to be.
One day, while the rabbits were out foraging, they stumbled upon a trap set by a hunter. Inside the trap was the fox who had been hunting them before. The rabbits were afraid and wanted to leave the fox there to suffer, but one of the young rabbits, named Flopsy, remembered Mary’s golden rule and decided to help the fox.
Flopsy carefully freed the fox from the trap, and the fox, surprised and grateful, thanked Flopsy. The fox said his name was Lightning and explained that he had been caught in the trap while hunting for food for his family, and that he had never intended to harm the rabbits. The two animals realized that they were not so different after all, and they became friends.
The fox and the rabbit family then worked together to find food and protect each other from danger in Richmond Park. Mary was happy to see that her advice had been taken to heart and that even the unlikeliest of friendships could form. They all lived happily ever after, always looking out for each other and Mary the wise owl was always there to protect them, always reminding them of the golden rule to treat others just as they would like to be treated.
A few months later there was a massive rain storm. The wind howled. The trees shook. It was icy cold. The rabbit family huddled together in their den.
Yet on that cold and windy night, at the height of the storm, they met someone who would become their friend for ever. He would become known as the Hero of the Winter Storm. He was a young dog named Wally.
But what happened?
That is another story ………………….
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*This story was generated by AI and a process of focused iteration plus actual amendment.
Photo by Aswathy – Thank you
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