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Animal Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets
Our pets. They are our loyal companions and our faithful friends, a constant source of joy and inspiration. In this endearing anthology of prayers and poems, June Cotner has handpicked choice writings by some of the world's most notable animal lovers to celebrate the playful, the poignant, and the profound ways these wonderful creatures touch our daily lives. Selections include Emily Dickinson's astute observations of her cat, Roger Caras' thoughts about the love a dog brings to a home, and a cat's rules for running a house. Readers will be delighted by Anne Porter's poem exalting a spring symphony of peepers and Rumi in praise of birds in flight. The section "Partings" includes Annie Dougherty's lovely poem "Time to Say Good-bye" and Lord Byron's epitaph to his dog. "Reflections" includes the words of St. Francis, Jane Goodall, and Chief Seattle, reminding us that we are all interconnected beings, and James Herriot and Walt Whitman honoring the humble dignity of all creatures. Animal Blessings makes a wonderful gift for all animal lovers. This delightful volume is a charming companion that reminds us to be grateful for everything our pets and all the other animals of the world bring to our lives.
- GenresPoetryAnimalsNonfiction
168 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
9 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
June Cotner
40 books20 followersJune is the published author of 40 books including the bestselling books, Graces, Bedside Prayers, Dog Blessings, and House Blessings (published by major houses such as Random House, Harper Collins, and Hachette. Her books are carried in nationwide bookstores and at the innovative Restoration Hardware store chain.
June's newest book is BLESS THE EARTH: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World, coauthored with Nancy Tupper Ling, and published by Penguin Random House/Convergent Books.
June's books collectively have sold more than one million copies and have been featured in many national publications, including USA Today, The New York Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Glamour, and Family Circle.
June has taught workshops and given presentations at bookstores throughout the country and at the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Conference, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Conference, and The Learning Annex in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
"Creativity for me involves connections ... whether it's coming up with new book ideas, helping others make their book proposals stronger, or finding a perfect quote for one of my books." ~ June Cotner
June's newest book is BLESS THE EARTH: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World, coauthored with Nancy Tupper Ling, and published by Penguin Random House/Convergent Books.
June's books collectively have sold more than one million copies and have been featured in many national publications, including USA Today, The New York Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Glamour, and Family Circle.
June has taught workshops and given presentations at bookstores throughout the country and at the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Conference, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Conference, and The Learning Annex in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
"Creativity for me involves connections ... whether it's coming up with new book ideas, helping others make their book proposals stronger, or finding a perfect quote for one of my books." ~ June Cotner
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 20, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable. A lot on cats and dogs, and a little on everything else.
April 14, 2020
I just wish that it wasn't too Christian. Other than that, it hit the right spot within me.
Here's my favourite highlights from the book:
For me a house or an apartment becomes a home when you add one set of four legs, a happy tail, and that indescribable measure of love we call a dog.
ROGER CARAS
President Emeritus of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
An Epitaph (Inscription on a monument at Newstead Abbey)
Near this spot
Are deposited the remains of one
Who possessed beauty without vanity,
Strength without insolence,
Courage without ferocity,
And all the virtues of man without his vices. This praise, which would be unmeaning flattery
If inscribed over human ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the memory of
Boatswain, a dog.
LORD BYRON
(1788–1824)
When a dog finally passes on, there is an emptiness, a place in our hearts that will never be filled again in exactly the way it was. Because no matter how many dogs we have over the years, each is unique, a friend, and when they go away, our lives are changed forever in many small ways.
STEVE SMITH
In the Loss of Your Pet
There must be a heaven
for the animal friends we love.
They are not human,
yet they bring out
our own humanity …
sometimes in ways
that other people cannot.
They do not worry
about fame or fortune …
instead, they bring our hearts
nearer to the joy of simple things.
Each day they teach us
little lessons in trust
and steadfast affection.
Whatever heaven may be,
there’s surely a place in it
for friends as good as these.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
As painful as it is to lose them, they teach us to love unselfishly, they teach us to live each day to the fullest, they teach us how to grow old gracefully, and they teach us how to die with dignity.
KENT C. GREENOUGH
If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
JAMES HERRIOT
(1916–1995)
Love animals. God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble their joy, do not harass them, do not deprive them of their happiness, do not work against God’s intention. FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY (1821–1881)
From The Brothers Karamazov
Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms …
GEORGE ELIOT (1819–1880)
An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.
MARTIN BUBER (1878–1965)
If you talk to the
animals, they will
talk to you. And you will know
each other. If you do not talk to the
animals, you will
not know them. And what you do not
know, you will fear.
What one fears, one
destroys.
CHIEF DAN GEORGE
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
ANATOLE FRANCE
(1844–1924)
Here's my favourite highlights from the book:
For me a house or an apartment becomes a home when you add one set of four legs, a happy tail, and that indescribable measure of love we call a dog.
ROGER CARAS
President Emeritus of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
An Epitaph (Inscription on a monument at Newstead Abbey)
Near this spot
Are deposited the remains of one
Who possessed beauty without vanity,
Strength without insolence,
Courage without ferocity,
And all the virtues of man without his vices. This praise, which would be unmeaning flattery
If inscribed over human ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the memory of
Boatswain, a dog.
LORD BYRON
(1788–1824)
When a dog finally passes on, there is an emptiness, a place in our hearts that will never be filled again in exactly the way it was. Because no matter how many dogs we have over the years, each is unique, a friend, and when they go away, our lives are changed forever in many small ways.
STEVE SMITH
In the Loss of Your Pet
There must be a heaven
for the animal friends we love.
They are not human,
yet they bring out
our own humanity …
sometimes in ways
that other people cannot.
They do not worry
about fame or fortune …
instead, they bring our hearts
nearer to the joy of simple things.
Each day they teach us
little lessons in trust
and steadfast affection.
Whatever heaven may be,
there’s surely a place in it
for friends as good as these.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
As painful as it is to lose them, they teach us to love unselfishly, they teach us to live each day to the fullest, they teach us how to grow old gracefully, and they teach us how to die with dignity.
KENT C. GREENOUGH
If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
JAMES HERRIOT
(1916–1995)
Love animals. God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble their joy, do not harass them, do not deprive them of their happiness, do not work against God’s intention. FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY (1821–1881)
From The Brothers Karamazov
Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms …
GEORGE ELIOT (1819–1880)
An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.
MARTIN BUBER (1878–1965)
If you talk to the
animals, they will
talk to you. And you will know
each other. If you do not talk to the
animals, you will
not know them. And what you do not
know, you will fear.
What one fears, one
destroys.
CHIEF DAN GEORGE
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
ANATOLE FRANCE
(1844–1924)
January 11, 2011
I thought this would be too saccharine to be enjoyable, and while it does have some sentimental pieces in it, there are some great pieces in here, too. Recommended for real animal lovers.
March 20, 2020
Super sweet book full of awesome poems. I don't really like poems, but through this book, I could tell all the authors of the poems had a loving story to share and I think they all did a good job of conveying them. Also, super cute if you have pets to relate to! :D
December 16, 2024
Love all my fur babies...all deserve their forever home to be loved and spoiled ..love the cover.. was a very quick read
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews