“Montreal Animal Lovers You Should Know About” – NEeMA

NEeMA

Where do you live now and who lives with you?

Home-base is still Montreal though I’m often away.  My dog elsa lives with me when I’m home.

Did you have animals when you were young?  What was your first experience with animals?

I always wanted a dog. I became good friends with quiet a few, but I wasn’t allowed to have one. I was given fish instead..I became very close with a dog named elsa near my friend’s country place, where I  spent much time during my elementary school years. I told myself when I get a dog I would name her elsa!

Tell us about your song writing career and how that began.

I have been writing poetry since I was a child, and I always loved to sing. As a career I came to it late in life. I learned to play guitar in Australia after finishing my university degree while  living in Egypt I took voice and guitar lessons. I then went to northern Canada to manage the community of Wekweti – A Tlicho Indigenous community. After that I received a little grant from the government of the Northwest Territories and began working on my songwriting and music more seriously.

How did Elsa’s Lullaby come to be?

It started as a poem. elsa was touring Canada with me and a young girl fell in love with her. She said you must have so many songs written about your dog. I realized I had none – and the poem began. Eventually part of that poem became elsa’s Lullaby.

(This is the original poem that eventually became Elsa’s Lullaby)

elsa

my big nose baby

beautiful lady

love of my life

i love the way

you wait for me

ever so

patiently

the way you lie there

with crossed paws

oblivious of

how gorgeous you are

how you tilt your nose

up in the air

to take in the scent

that’s lingering there

or the way you
so passionately chew
those delicious bones

you dig into

with eyes half closed

and ears that flop

there isn’t a drop

of you i don’t adore

you even chase

the bees from

trying to eat them

fearlessly

beautiful love of my life

you make me feel so free

let’s run away together
you and me

if you were bigger

a little bigger

i’d ride you bareback

down the river

while you galloped

through the wind

that brushed against

my summer skin

or if i was

of your kind

i’d run through the desert

by your side

brushing against you

as we played

then curled by you

at the end of the day

we’d swim in the ocean

jump through the waves

roll on the sand

and explore the caves

i’d follow you

through the bush

you the beautiful
little huntress

sweetest elsa

beautiful lady

golden lashes

heart melting eyes

when we’re playing

and i look at you

you turn your head

peaking through

the corner

of your eye

pretending not to

see me look at you

body of husky

coat of golden lab

dogality only

you could have

finding comfort

in the back seat
with the most creative poses

i’ve ever seen

i love the way

you so delicately

take the cookie

from my hand

the way you tilt your head

then lick your chops

then beautifully yawn

in contentment

querida elsitta

love of my life

where would i be
were you not a part of me

i remember when

i  took you in

you were just a tiny

little thing

you grew into

my coolest companion

and most

compassionate friend

when i go traveling

and i call

i hear you howling

down the hall

and when i’m gone

for too long

listening to you

makes me cry too

you taught me how

to love again

i thank you deeply

for that lesson

now i watch you sleep

by the door

curled up on some

hotel room floor

and i grieve a little

for the brevity

of the time that you have

here with me

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TPK ‎

“In rescuing animals, I lost my mind, but found my soul.” ~anonymous