When we were children and lived at the beach on a quarter acre section, we had lots of guinea pigs. Thirty-six at one time I remember. (We were very proud of that number) Males and females, shorthaired and long haired, all colours. The only ones who went into cages were the pregnant mothers, the rest ran free. My father even built a rock mountain with tunnels running under and through it for them to hide in away from the cats, there were even little rooms for sleeping. We used to put ads in the newspaper and sell the babies. Every morning after breakfast, already dressed in my school uniform, I would take a pot of porridge down the back, bang on the pot with the wooden spoon and call Guinea, Guinea, Guinea! They would erupt at a gallop from where-ever they were hiding and line up to eat, as I ladled the porridge out in a row on the grass.
Our back yard was pretty wild. My mother told us that it was important to keep and breed the animals because as well as learning to take care of animals (which we did) we also learnt about birth and death and it’s natural progression. Needless to say we had a little graveyard behind the swings with named white crosses and everything. My elder brother was in charge of making the crosses, he did a very good job and my little brother provided the shoe boxes for coffins. We sung hymns and said prayers and had quite elaborate little funeral services.
My mother died almost 30 years ago now, when I was a very young mother, but I need to tell her that I have learnt this lesson now and can she please stop teaching me. The Duke of Kupa died last night. I am sorry to be blunt. But I don’t like euphemisms for death especially after we have worked so hard to keep him alive. He did not pass, he is not gone, he died. He was our beautiful bird.
There has been a wee bit of a thaw so I hope the ground is not too frozen, I will bury him down the back with the piglets, Mama’s lambs and White Cat. John is working 12 hour days so I will do this by myself.
And he died with such relief poor fellow. His lungs stopped. The bellows exhaled. He shut his eyes. And his whole body relaxed.
He managed to die under a warm light on a miserable grey day. All very fitting for the day we lose our jewel.
God knows it is hard not to throw myself into a snow bank and say Woe is ME! How could I have missed the signs. But there you are, the milk is spilled. Even a short time with an animal or a friend can be wonderful. Just because he did not live for twenty years does not mean his life was any less complete. He was so beautiful. But there are animals out there who need me on my toes and paying attention.
Ok Mum, let’s get to work with the living now.
I am sorry. I know you loved him too.
Do take care and have a lovely day for Kupa.
your friend
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
135 responses to “The Duke of Kupa”
I am very very sorry…. cannot find anything else to say…
please accept a very warm hug…
So sorry, Celi horrible for you x
I prefer the word “died” too. It can seem harsh, but that is what we all do in the end. It is horrible to lose an animal friend because they are so much a part of us. I’m quite sure he had a very good peacock life and he will be remembered with love…what more could a peacock want?
So sorry to hear this…I will be thinking of you as I go about my chores today.
I’ve been reading your blog for only a few months, but I’ve come to love your animals — and more importantly, love the way YOU love them. Which makes a loss all the more heartbreaking. I’m glad Kupa had a quiet ending, and you’ll be in my thoughts today.
Thank you anna and thank you for reading.. c
The Duke is dead: Long live the duke
I’m so sorry to read about Kupa this morning … such a beautiful bird! Hopefully, one day, you will add another majestic male to your flock and love him just as much as you loved Kupa. Fowl or beast … they are all part of your farmy family and you let us all become part of the lives of the entire farmy group! We grieve your many losses right along with you!! Love & Hugs from Colorado and wishing you a Merry Christmas and a critter filled New Year!!
You are right Marcia, we have two beautiful big fat peahens who still need a mate, so I will indeed be looking for another peacock. Maybe I should get two this time and make sure they are from good strong stock.. c
That sounds like a great idea … shop around for the best stock you can find! Hugs!!
That’s too bad, Celi. A bird with pneumonia is a very sick animal and I seriously doubt he would have survived this long had he been anywhere else but on the farmy. You treat your animals with respect and they’re lucky to find a home with you.
Morning john, i am glad you saw him before he died, he was a magnificent bird, but you are right, he would never have survived, even if we had cured him, a weak chest is not a good thing for a wild living bird. c
You didn’t miss the signs: you did your absolute best to tend him so it just must have been his time had come. .We’re all very sad for you and my vase of Kupa’s tail feathers is even more precious now.
Love,
ViVxoxox
I am still so very glad that you have those long tail feathers from his first autumn, they are in the best place..plus i have the beautiful emboridery that Jock did.. that is pretty wonderful in itself.. c
Sigh…you did so much to help him. I am sorry you lost him. He was beautiful. Hugs
A jewel.what a perfect word for him. Kupa was the most beautiful of creatures, and we got to see him display his full splendor. For that I am so grateful. Celi, you are like a little town with your own private cemetery where all your loved creatures are buried, respected and remembered.
I think we love our critters more than humans because they dont hurt us (emotionally), never let us down, are so mysterious, so endlessly fascinating.
I am so sorry. Nothing seems to prepare us for this. I just lost my dad this week. Big hug.
Oh Lynda, you poor old thing, that is so sad .I am so sorry you are having to deal with all that. And I do so agree that there is no preparation, My Mum was ill for years really, outliving everyones expectations but when she finally died I was quite, quite shocked. I remember sitting on the verandah at the hospice saying exactly that to my little brother. Hmm. Do take care, you have a hard week ahead.. thank you so much for popping in anyway.. c
I am sorry for your loss but glad it is over for him – poor fellow.
I know Dee, there is a certain peace in death, be it for man or beast.. c
I am so sorry for your loss of the beautiful Duke of Kupa. You both fought so hard to beat the pneumonia. I don’t comment every day but I do read every day and was so hoping that you two would beat the odds. Pneumonia is so hard to overcome, even for humans who can go to hospitals with oxygen and breathable medications. Hugs.
OH Cecilia, I am so sorry for your loss !! You did everything you could and no one could have done more, your love for your animals shines through in everything you do !!