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Rudyard Kipling
The
Power of the Dog
There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I beg you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But...you've given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will,
When its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept "em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong.
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
Frances Clark 1946 - Copyright - All Rights Reserved
Shadows
When shadows of the evening fall,
Across the grass and down the wall,
Their soft and gentle mantles hide
Your resting place since you have died.
But sometimes, when the moon is high,
I feel your loving presence nigh.
A gentle touch, a click of claws,
Your shadow follows me indoors.
When memories flood over me,
I sense your head upon my knee,
And when my tears fall down apace,
I feel your breath upon my face.
For Death to part us seems so wrong,
But my life's journey won't be long,
Years have passed since the day you died,
Soon Death will lead me to your side.
We will meet again that happy day.
For this I hope. For this I pray.
The Good Shepherd in Heaven above
Will reunite us in his love.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
To A Young Ass, Its mother being tethered near it
Poor little foal of an oppressed race"
I love the languid patience of thy face:
And oft with gentle hand I give thee bread,
And clap thy ragged coat, and pat thy head.
But what thy dulled spirits hath dismay'd,
That never thou dost sport along the glade:
And (most unlike the nature of things young)
That earthward still they moveless head is hung?
Do thy prophetic fears anticipate,
Meek Child of Misery! thy future fate?
The starving meal, and all the thousand aches
"Which patient Merit of the Unworthy takes"?
Or is thy sad heart thrill'd with filial pain
to see thy wretched mother's shorten'd chain?
And truly, very piteous is her lot -
Chain'd to a log within a narrow spot,
Where the close-eaten grass is scarcely seen,
While sweet around her waves the tempting green!
Poor Ass! thy master should have learnt to show
Pity - best taught by fellowship of Woe!
For much I fear me that He lives like thee,
Half famish'd in a land of luxury!
How askingly its footsteps hither bend?
It seems to say, "And have I then one friend?"
Innocent foal! thou poor despis'd forlorn!
I hail thee Brother - spite of the fool's scorn!
And fain would take thee with me, in the Dell
Of Peace and mild Equality to dwell,
Where Toil shall call the charmer Health his bride,
And Laughter tickle Plenty's ribless side!
How thou woulds't toss thy heels in gamesome play,
And frisk about, as lamb or kitten gay!
Yea! and more musically sweet to me
Thy dissonant harsh bray of joy would be,
Than warbled melodies that soothe to rest
The aching of pale Fashion's vacant breast.
William Blake 1757 - 1827
The Tyger
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of they heart?
And when they heart began to beat,
What dread hand? And what dread feet?
What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
John Masefield 1878 - 1967
A Fellow Mortal
I found a fox, caught by the leg
In a toothed gin, torn from its peg,
And dragged, God knows how far, in pain.
Such torment could not plead in vain,
He looked at me, I looked at him.
With iron jaw-teeth in his limb.
"Come, little son," I said, "Let be.....
Don't bite me, while I set you free."
But much I feared that in the pang
Of helping, I should feel a fang
In hand or face .......
but must is must .........
And he had given me his trust.
So down I knelt there in the mud
And loosed those jaws all mud and blood.
And he, exhausted, crept, set free,
Into the shade, away from me;
The leg not broken ......
Then, beyond,
That gin went plonk into the pond.
Frances Clark 1946 - Copyright - All Rights Reserved
Always Near
A dog's small world is full of dreams,
Of full food bowls and scents unseen,
Of open fields and cosy chair,
And, most of all, you standing there.
And when the end is drawing near
And you are trying to stem your tears,
He licks your hand with happy sigh,
Content that you are standing by.
And when he reaches Heaven's Gate,
The Lord says, "Come." But he says, "Wait.
"I have a friend I love so dear
And I can feel her footsteps near."
Your lifetime's passed. You near God's throne.
One happy glance. You're not alone.
Your loving pet, so patient waits,
To pass with you through Heaven's Gates.
Frances Clark - 1946 - All Rights Reserved
New for Old
I remember once, my world was warm.
My mistress loved me so,
But she was old and in poor health,
And so I had to go.
I first went to a pound for strays,
In the hope I'd find a home,
But I too was getting on in years,
So I was left alone.
Young pups came and soon went out.
We old ones lingered there.
After a lifetime of being loved,
Is there nobody else who'll care?
And then, one day, one special day,
A couple smiled at me.
They came closer talking gently,
And my old eyes tried hard to see.
I sniffed their outstretched hands with care.
They gently stroked my head.
Yes, they smelt kind - I liked this pair
"We will take this one." They said.
Author Unknown
Beneath the Chestnut Bough?
On your grave beneath the chestnut bough,
Today no fragrance falls, nor summer air,
Only a master's love who laid you there,
Perchance may warm the air 'neath which you drowse,
In dreams from which no meal-time calls may rouse,
Unwakable, though close the rat may dare,
Deaf, though the rabbit thump in playful scare,
Silent, though twenty foxes screech their vows.
And yet, mayhap, some night when shadows pass,
And from the fir the brown owl hoots on high,
That should one whistle 'neath a favouring star,
Your shade shall canter o'er the grass,
Questing for him you loved in days gone by,
Ere death, the dog thief, carried you afar.
Why not give a pet portrait or pet portrait voucher - A unique and very personal gift
Only 20% deposit which is FULLY refundable if you are not delighted with your painting.
(Payments by Pay Pal Accepted)
Alternatively, I offer Individualized Gift Vouchers.
If you send me an image of your pet I can incorporate it into the Gift Voucher, and you can choose your own text for inside.
Pet Portraits of Animals & Landscape Paintings in Oils or Watercolours, from your OWN photos.
See more of my paintings on my other web sites:-
www.icpetportraits.com - www.icpaintings.com - www.petportraits-england.com
| FAQs | The Artist's Pets |
There is a Currency Converter on the Paintings Price List Page
Please feel free to email me if you have any further queries
"The essence of all art is to
have pleasure in giving pleasure"
Pet portraits and Greeting Cards of your pets, dogs, cats animals, or landscapes make very special gifts and Cards.
Paintings of special dogs, cats, in fact any pet animal, wildlife or landscape paintings such as your own home and greeting cards from your favourite photos in oils or watercolours are such unique and special gifts.
All I need from you is a CLEAR photo of your pet dog, cat, or any other pet, person or place, to create that unique and special portrait painting.
If you do not have any clear, close up photos of your pet, take some NOW. If your pet has sadly died and it is too late to take any clear photos I will willingly look at your photo and let you know if it is clear enough.
I love my pet portrait work, but one of the saddest aspects is where an old pet has died and the owner has no clear photo to remember their friend by, or, indeed, to create a pet portrait memorial to their lost one. So take those pictures now, even if you do not yet decide on a painting of your pet.
The happiest aspect of my work is when my client has received their pet portrait and telephone or write to let me know how delighted they are in spite of the tears over their lost friend. Dog paintings, cat paintings and animal paintings make such special and lasting gifts and such loving memorials to lost friends.
I know how it feels to lose a beloved pet. Over the last 30 years I have lost some good pet friends and each loss is as acute as the last. All our pets are unique little characters who cannot be replaced. We can, however, hold their memories in our hearts. We find that once again we can open the photo albums and recall the happy times with our pets. Over the years in which I have been painting pets professionally I have found pet portraits can bring great comfort to those who have lost their dogs, cats, or other pets.
I have so many lovely letters from my clients telling me how the portrait of their pet is now taking pride of place in their home, and how they feel their pet's spirit is still with them whenever they gaze at the painting. I think this is the loveliest part of my work, although inevitably tinged with sadness.
So order your dog painting, cat painting or animal painting now for that lasting tribute. Whether it is a dog painting, cat painting, animal painting, landscape painting or greeting cards, when they are created from photos of your beloved pets you will have unique and loving mementos of your special friend. All my pet portraits and landscape paintings are executed in oils on canvas or watercolours. I paint all pets and all pets are welcome, whether they be rabbits, mice, guinea-pigs, hamsters, horses, ponies, dogs, cats or birds of all kinds.
Many times I am asked to paint scenes, cottages, farmhouses, railway signal boxes and people's own homes. Whatever scene you have in mind, all I need is that crucial CLEAR photo and you will have a special and lasting gift.
Whether it is a pet portrait or painting of your own home you have in mind, don't leave it too late. I need about 4 weeks to complete your painting so order as soon as possible.
I can also create greeting , Christmas, birthday and anniversary cards from your pet dogs, cats, animals, your home, children etc; from your CLEAR photos. Details can be seen on the Greeting Card Page.
So, if you have no CLEAR photos, get clicking and send your favourite photo to me for that pet portrait painting. You will be delighted with the result.
Pet dogs, cats, animals or any child or adult can be painted into the scene, even if they were not in that particular photo. Many things are possible. If you have a special request, just ask. If it is possible it can be done.
I care very much about animal welfare. Our companion creatures such as dogs, cats and other animals, rely completely on the sympathetic consideration of their owners. Many dogs and cats etc; are greatly loved and cherished by their doting human families. They live out their lives in happiness and contentment, with all their needs, physical and emotional tended to with deep affection.
However, there are so many other poor animals, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys and others too numerous to mention, who live their lives under the dark shadow of fear, pain, cold and discomfort. Many are maimed or killed by callous, cruel or indifferent owners.
In this web of misery there are many little candles glowing in the darkness. These are the numerous animal rescue centres, some consisting of just one or two loving, compassionate human beings. Some of these wonderful, caring people devote the whole of their lives to alleviating the suffering of these dogs, cats and other oppressed animals. They live on a knife-edge, never knowing where the money for that sick pet just handed in to them, will come from. But, somehow, they carry on because of their love for these poor dogs, cats and so many other animals.
There are also those marvellous people who, for one reason or another, cannot take in the poor animals themselves but either work for these rescue centres for free or contribute towards the maintenance of the distressed animals in their care.
The welfare of this Earth's wild creatures is something I feel very passionately about. We have done so much harm to these fellow residents of our planet, who, of course, have as much right to exist as humanity. Wild animals, including the smallest insect have no less right to live out their natural lifespan as ourselves.
We should not attempt to turn their wild habitats into pretty parks for our enjoyment. Nature is wild and beautiful in its wildness. Wild animals need to be wild and free.
We cannot turn this, still beautiful, Earth into a controlled, barren environment for the convenience of just one of this world's creatures, ourselves. We can help these animals in many ways, such as not mowing every piece of wild meadow near our towns. No voles, hawks or butterflies can exist on a lawn. These animals need the shelter of tall grasses to hide in and to feed from. Where there are no hiding places, there are no wild creatures.
We should have much tougher laws against the pollution of our rivers and fields, and stricter laws to protect these pressured animals.
Imagine a world with only one creature, the human being. What a dreadful place that would be. We must all do our best to alleviate some of the harm man has done to this world and its animal inhabitants.
If you want a really unusual and special gift for a pet or animal lover for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter, Anniversaries, Retirements, Presentations or any other celebration, a portrait of a beloved pet is always a unique and very welcome gift. Whether it is a dog painting, cat painting, horse painting, wild animal painting, bird painting, child or adult human painting or a painting of someone's home and garden, it will bring delight and surprise to the recipient.
Choose Unique and Special Gifts - Pet Portraits - Dog Paintings, Cat Paintings & Animal Paintings
Pet portraits - paintings of dogs, cats, animals, wildlife and landscape paintings by Isabel Clark BA (Hons) Fine Art. Gift Vouchers also available. Just ask.
Ideal as gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, Retirements, Anniversaries, Presentations.
Pet Portraits of Special Pets make Special Gifts
Isabel Clark's Pet Portraits of Special Pets Make Very Special Gifts
"God made all the creatures, and gave them our love and our fear, To give sign we and they are his children, one family here."
- Robert Browning. 1812-1890 -
All images on this site are in tangible form and are fully copyrighted. None of them may not be reproduced or used in any form or any manner, or displayed on any website or any other forum without the express written consent of the owner, Isabel Clark BA (Honours) Fine Art.