Advice From A Cow

I´ve been missing in action, or rather in inaction, since July when I was struck down and brought to a standstill, or rather a lie still, by a particularly vicious bout of sciatica. At first I resigned myself to lying around on the lawn alternating between reading and enjoying the garden but after a while reading began to pall, the garden and the house began to look neglected, the laundry remained unironed and I began to fret. It was around that time that I came upon this poem...

 

ODE TO A COW

When life seems one too many for

you,

Go and look at a cow.

When the future’s black and the

outlook blue,

Go and look at a cow.

For she does nothing but eat her

food,

And sleep in the meadows entirely

nood,

Refusing to fret or worry or

brood

Because she doesn’t know how.

Whenever you’re feeling bothered

and sore,

Go and look at a cow.

When everything else is a fearful

bore,

Go and look at a cow.

Observe her gentle and placid air,

Her nonchalance and savoir faire,

Her absolute freedom from every

care,

Her imperturbable brow.

So when you’re at the end of your

wits,

Go and look at a cow.

Or when your nerves are frayed

to bits,

And wrinkles furrow your brow;

She’ll merely moo in her gentle

way,

Switching her rudder as if to say:

“Bother tomorrow! Let’s live

today!

Take the advice of a cow.”

Not only did I find this advice a-moo-sing but I started thinking about it and realised that I was worrying needlessly and spoiling a lovely peaceful summer by feeling guilty about neglecting my chores. I don´t mean that I took the advice literally and just lay there chewing the cud and staring placidly into the distance but I finally started to enjoy my enforced inactivity rather than brooding on it. I´ve since had the first appointment with my osteopath and feel a little better already. I´ve even managed to sit rather than recline for long enough to swap my book for needle and thread.

So this page is my tribute to the wise old cow and also my thank you to Diane who gave me her permission to use a photo of her beautiful Lilly with her first calf, the equally beautiful Gabby. Hope she´ll forgive me for altering that perfect photo ever so slightly to give it a painted look to go with the background. 

Try to take that advice to heart. Enjoy what´s left of the summer and leave the chores for a rainy day.