Lessons in Love: A Poetic Autobiography

By Penny Fleckenstein

The 72 poems in this book cover many types of love: for the author’s three guide dogs, for her six children, for her parents and grandparents, for God and nature, for her many friends, and in a handful of light–hearted selections, for food.

The many romantic poems express love for both real people and dream lovers, for ideals yet unattained. One of the most humorous poems, “Beautiful Music,” which is cleverly composed primarily of song titles, appears in this section.

The introductory paragraphs that appear before many of the poems are an unusual and moving feature. Most of them introduce the people described in the following poems; they provide a rich background, fleshing out the characters. Others tell more about the author’s life, from babyhood on, their spare words providing a brief but poignant autobiography. The reader is left hoping that someday, the author might choose to write more fully on these very personal subjects.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penny Fleckenstein
• Release date: Nov 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005842765

Book preview

LOVE FOR MY GUIDE DOGS

Meet my three guide dogs: a loyal Yellow Lab named Delice from Guiding Eyes For the Blind; Ash, an absolute sweetheart of a Yellow Lab from Freedom Guide Dogs; and an adorable Black Lab from Freedom Guide Dogs named Bryanna, with attitude and a sense of humor. With Delice and Ash, I was more of a perfectionist and stuck with the rules. I was young and very strict. Now that I’m older, I’m more relaxed and understanding of the fact that dogs, like humans, are not perfect. They make mistakes, too. Rivi Israel, my guide dog trainer with Bryanna, told me that as long as we get from one place to the next safely and work together as a team, all is well.

I regret not having been more aware of my dogs’ emotional needs. Bryanna has an extra burden the other dogs didn’t have. That is, I’ve developed vertigo, and I rely on her for my balance as we travel from place to place. I love all three of my guide dogs and admire the dedication, loyalty, and work ethic they possess. I believe that the majority of guide dogs are 100% better than the majority of human beings. Guide dogs are in a class of their own.

Delice

Delice was my first guide dog love

She endured me so well

I was a novice and not very skilled

She was an independent traveler with a mind of her own

An emotional creature, she wore a big smile

as she mischievously jumped over a puddle

and reveled while I splashed through it

Calm and ladylike,

peaceful and sweet,

she’d let the children use her as a pillow

I used her as a footstool for my feet

She knew her locations

She’d always stop for Chinese

She conquered our hearts and was so eager to please.

Ash, My Puppy Nose

Ash was a sweet, gentle soul

not even growling when Katrina, at seven months old,

took his bone and chewed it

He was kind to the children

no matter how confusing

He’d eat cat food and cookies

when the children would sneak them to him

He turned his nose up at unfiltered water

You couldn’t outsmart him

He knew what he was after

Ash was adored by many even after he retired

He greeted the customers at the flower shop

Someday I will see him and touch him in Heaven

because I know he’s looking for me

He was loyal, filled with a precious spirit

We all miss him so much

He’ll greet me in Heaven as he greeted Grandma at the flower shop

We’ll go for a walk, and I’ll tell him, You’re a good Puppy Nose.

I’m sure of this, for I feel Ash knows

I’m coming one day to be with my Puppy Nose.

Bryanna

Bryanna

I love her so much

A speedy companion

guiding my feet around obstacles

stopping

at every curb and hole

guarding my hard head

safety first

when crossing the street.

She lies peacefully in church

in service and in the nursery.

Afterwards, she eagerly

awaits crumbs which accidentally

fall from plates

of the

children who

want to stroke her with their fingers

but feed her crumbs.

Dog and happy children,

smiling

with understanding eyes.

She’s rewarded,

she receives praise

for obedience and guidance

caring with patience

as she faithfully travels

making it to our destination

conscientiously

so she

can play and sleep awhile before

we do it all over again.

Monitoring

the complexities of traffic calmly

disregarding distractions

at an inconvenient time.

A CHILD’S LOVE

I was abandoned in a hospital in Thailand, left there to never be picked up. This has caused me much distress and anxiety, which affects all my relationships, especially the one with my adoptive parents, who went through a lot to adopt me and raise me as their child. As an older adult, I have attempted to show them my appreciation and love. I know it’s likely I’ll have to go through this world without them one day, and I want them to leave this world knowing that I have a strong love for them. I feel I suffer from reactive attachment disorder, because there has always been a distance between me and my parents. I’m working to close the distance and develop the closeness we should have had all along.

Ruth von Fleckenstein was born in West Virginia. She earned her B.S. from the University of Chicago and her master’s degree in Health Education from the University of Hawaii. My parents married