nature

  • August Seventh

    Earth so dry Beginning to relinquish hold on a landscape slowly losing the struggle to dig deep enough for life sustaining moisture – sprinklers small comfort. Into each heated night, cicadas loose a relentless, high-pitched plea – no relief and dawn arrives – gray as the day before. And yet – yet the strawberry pot…

  • Tulip Poplar

    At first a few leaves lay scattered on the ground but by Wednesday whole yards were covered Lawns returned to green only when weekend gardeners shredded and swept the interlopers It is early August, yet the Tulip Poplar doesn’t care Years ago, its broad yellow leaf intrigued me, as reaching between the Manual of Woody…

  • On Whitehall Creek

    Life was expectant with spring’s first bud rushed headlong into summer barely paused when Fall rescued us from languid August days. Winter nearing we must linger till morning light to pull on warm clothes slip past sleeping cats and out for our morning walk. No heron or Squirrel – only geese pass overhead, honking snow…

  • Walking

    I love the sense of freedom and quiet the sights sounds and smells that I experience on an early morning walk Rabbits silently lope from spot to spot in search of breakfast an old dog greets us from well within his castle gates Occasionally someone else is also up and walking usually (like me) with…

  • Simple Pleasures

    Driving up the hill towards the cabin taking stock of our visit so far one chipmunk no deer no bear (taxidermied animals don’t count) Cresting the hill two does stood in the middle of the road paused, then continued over the fence to join a third That night in the rain we sat in rockers…

  • Hark!

    No sooner had the calendar turned its page to December then God spread His blanket across the eastern half of the continent. Pre-empting deck the halls and fa-la-la, deer stayed in their thickets and geese fell silent. Caught by surprise littlejennywren darted from her berth ‘neath the boat cover and chattered incessantly at our back…

  • Mid-Summer Nights

    The day’s hot breath lingered forcing fireflies out of the grass. Soundlessly they rose – rising blink-ing rising – pausing in the trees, slowly charting their way ever upward. Occasionally we’d catch one in an old jar, while grownups sat in lawn chairs and chatted. Mostly we just ran around small, thin arms o  u…

  • August

    August hangs heavy in the air uncomfortably cloaking all who venture outside August forced open its eyes later this morning than yesterday labored breathing hissing over soon ssooooon (I found a cicada lying silent in the street on my morning walk today) What happened to May’s sweet promise the glittering dance of June July’s sultry…

  • Indian Summer

    Early morning sun dances across the inlet in a blizzard of light tags a falling leaf then darts up the hill weaving through the trees in a game of hide and seek Thousands of gold flecks swirl through the air lifted on the wind – while winter lies in wait around the next corner Temporarily…

  • Changes

    It’s not hard to leave in winter – when all the earth is sleeping. fallow. in winter we might just slip away But not now. (don’t ask) Everywhere kaleidoscopes of color set my senses swirling Littlejennywren’sexcitedchatter drives me to distraction! forcing me to open the door to where the sweet fragrance of spring intoxicates my…