For Erba

De tuinman en de dood

Een Perzisch Edelman:
Van morgen ijlt mijn tuinman, wit van schrik,
Mijn woning in: "Heer, Heer, één ogenblik!

Ginds, in de rooshof, snoeide ik loot na loot,
Toen keek ik achter mij. Daar stond de Dood.

Ik schrok, en haastte mij langs de andere kant,
Maar zag nog juist de dreiging van zijn hand.

Meester, uw paard, en laat mij spoorslags gaan,
Voor de avond nog bereik ik Ispahaan!"

Vanmiddag (lang reeds was hij heengespoed)
Heb ik in 't cederpark de Dood ontmoet.

"Waarom," zo vraag ik, want hij wacht en zwijgt,
"Hebt gij van morgen vroeg mijn knecht gedreigd?"

Glimlachend antwoordt hij: "Geen dreiging was 't,
Waarvoor uw tuinman vlood. Ik was verrast,

Toen 'k 's morgens hier nog stil aan 't werk zag staan,
Die 'k 's avonds halen moest in Ispahaan."

P.N. van Eyck

Erbacedrina di Selvaspina * 01-05-1993   26-04-2007

Erbacedrina di Selvaspina, called Erba, is my/our first Maremma Sheepdog. She was imported directly from Italy, and came to us in September 1993. She was very sweet and friendly to everything and everyone and loved to mother anything that came in front of her paws; puppies, kittens, chicken. Although the latter could not always appreciate a thorough cleaning. At dusk she used to start guarding and as a precaution walked barking through the garden. She was rather stubborn and sometimes wanted to get her own way.  And it was very difficult to get it out of her head. Erba was almost 14 years old and no longer the agile lady she used to be.  She made her rounds through the garden, would love to go for longer walks, but usually regretted the way back. She became a grand old lady who could not be bothered by all the fuss. The guarding she left to the younger generation.
At April 26th 2007 we had to make the very difficult decision to let her go.

Showresults		HD B
1995	BOB Clubmatch	Litters: 2
		Offspring:14

Pedigree

Erbacedrina di Selvaspina (B)	Baccano	Darfo delle Grande Murailles	Gerfalco delle Grandes Murailles
			Domitilla delle Grandes Murailles
		Era	Caronte di San Miliano
			Belle
	Tintarella di Luna di Selvaspina	Quadrifoglio delle Grandes Murailles	Zufolo delle Grandes Murailles
			Cara delle Grandes Murailles
		Seratasorpresa di Selvaspina	Bruto
			Selvapiana delle Grandes Murailles