glimpses

we are born into a trap:

we must rent or buy a space

for ourselves in this world,

so we work… often for others.

we are indoctrinated as children

into silly beliefs and ideologies.

it looks like we have no choice;

we must submit to the machine.

however, there are those rare

moments of lucidity when we

catch glimpses of something

better, deeper, more soulful.

we read books and poetry,

watch movies, go to church–

always on the hunt for more

of those uplifting glimpses.

we are obsessed with it.

we hope that someday those

visions will come together

in a meaningful way,

like some cosmic puzzle,

and we will finally know that

which we have only glimpsed.

–photo by me

rusty puddles

rain comes down upon the range,

and something strange befuddles

all the people passing through:

the sight of rusty puddles.

in all those pools of opaque orange,

an iron oxide’s found–

it seeps into the water here

up from the rusty ground.

and yes, year after year, that rust

into our world seeps;

perhaps someday we’ll rust away–

i’ve heard it never sleeps.

–photo by me

John Muir Quote

As a teen, I was an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy, and the idea of finding some kind of hidden portal to another reality didn’t seem all that far-fetched.

Now, as an old man, I still think about it when I’m out here in the forest; there could be an entrance to another world anywhere among all these old trees, perhaps leading to a magical realm of fairies and elves.

Well, in a way, I have found portals in the woods. In fact, they’re everywhere, which leads me to today’s quote by mountaineer and author John Muir:

“Between every

two pines is a doorway

to a new world.”

–Photo by me

dive-bombed

i went into the wetlands for to shoot some birds in flight,

but i had no idea they would put up such a fight;

a problem with these swallows that is likely to occur:

if you get too near their nests, they will dive-bomb you for sure!

they swoop down out of nowhere, and it makes you duck and squat,

but if you keep from flinching, you may get your flying shot.

and what is my excuse for my failure here today?

the sun was in my eyes and my beard was in my way.

–photo by friend

shot of the day (6/13/25)

In the woods, June has its own shade of green–lighter than forest green, ironically, but darker than, say, mint. After a long winter of bare limbs in the forest, it’s nice to have it filling back in; it’s greening up, so to speak. Sometimes the undergrowth seems to take on shapes.

this bush reminds me

of a skinny little teen

with a bunch of pink barrettes

in her hair so green

–photo by me