 How Like a Leaf |
“This is Roland.” Wagging his docked tail in motions that send his entire body into welcoming undulations, he approaches me with caution. Polite but stern, Haraway advises, “Don’t pet him right away. He needs to smell you before he’ll receive your touch. Too often people reach out right away and it startles him.” Keenly aware of the needs and mores of the nonhumans she shares her habitat with, she speaks of them in language sprinkled with terms like “dominance behavior” and “aggressive impulse.” She then recounts Roland’s recent experience with dog school “to get his good citizenship certificate” (said with a chuckle) at which point the two of them begin to demonstrate some of the behaviors he has learned. “Down. Stay. In principle he can’t get up until he gets the command. But he likes hanging out.” I have been here only minutes and already the world I have entered is one where botany meets fairy tale and animal science filial love. (2) |