what's the name of that poem with the dogs and the breakfast?
August 30, 2010 6:50 PM Subscribe
What's the name of (and where can i find) the Buddhist-y poem that has a line that goes something along the lines of 'send us dogs when we expect breakfast?'
About 10 years ago I read a poem that was kind of Buddhist-y and talked about asking the creator (or whoever) to send surprises. I remember that one of the lines was something like 'send us dogs when we expect breakfast'. The idea being that we can't predict or control what will happen, so we should just welcome whatever craziness comes our way. I could really use this reminder these days, plus, it was a nice poem. Anyone know what this is? Thanks, group!
About 10 years ago I read a poem that was kind of Buddhist-y and talked about asking the creator (or whoever) to send surprises. I remember that one of the lines was something like 'send us dogs when we expect breakfast'. The idea being that we can't predict or control what will happen, so we should just welcome whatever craziness comes our way. I could really use this reminder these days, plus, it was a nice poem. Anyone know what this is? Thanks, group!
Best answer: Written by Michael Leunig -- is this it?
God give us rain when we expect sun.
Give us music when we expect trouble.
Give us tears when we expect breakfast.
Give us dreams when we expect a storm.
Give us a stray dog when we expect congratulations.
God play with us, turn us sideways and around.
Amen
posted by vers at 7:12 PM on August 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
God give us rain when we expect sun.
Give us music when we expect trouble.
Give us tears when we expect breakfast.
Give us dreams when we expect a storm.
Give us a stray dog when we expect congratulations.
God play with us, turn us sideways and around.
Amen
posted by vers at 7:12 PM on August 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
no breakfast in sight, though
Except for right there, in the third line. Guess I wasn't expecting it.
posted by YamwotIam at 7:17 PM on August 30, 2010
Except for right there, in the third line. Guess I wasn't expecting it.
posted by YamwotIam at 7:17 PM on August 30, 2010
Best answer: Jinx, YamwotIam. But you forgot to say Amen ;)
Here's a touching Leunig page. I've some of his books on the shelves and should open them more often.
posted by vers at 7:18 PM on August 30, 2010
Here's a touching Leunig page. I've some of his books on the shelves and should open them more often.
posted by vers at 7:18 PM on August 30, 2010
Response by poster: That's it! Thank you both so much! It's crazy how I searched and searched for this poem for 10 years, and you both solved the riddle in 15 minutes.
Much appreciated!
posted by andreapandrea at 4:48 AM on August 31, 2010
Much appreciated!
posted by andreapandrea at 4:48 AM on August 31, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
God give us rain when we expect sun.
Give us music when we expect trouble.
Give us tears when we expect breakfast.
Give us dreams when we expect a storm.
Give us a stray dog when we expect congratulations.
God play with us, turn us sideways and around.
© Michael Leunig
Found at http://peterfox.com.au/meditation_tonglen.htm
posted by YamwotIam at 7:11 PM on August 30, 2010 [2 favorites]