Early Birds

I’ll never understand why so many of the migrating birds come back to the northland when there’s still ice on the lakes. This is the time for them to find a mate and start a family, but they can’t build a nest out of ice. The only thing the early bird catches around here is a cold.

However, as a painfully shy kid back in high school, I understand the difficulties of initiating a courtship, and perhaps it’s the same with these early birds.

some fall in love

the moment they meet

while others come down

with a case of cold feet

–Photo by me

totality

when you’re in the path of a total eclipse,

the day becomes night, and the temperature dips;

the stars all come out, as the moon and the sun

embrace one another — becoming as one.

and in some weird way, it touches your soul

when the sun in the sky becomes a black hole,

it’s so surreal — yet a beautiful thing —

and it ends with a kiss and a diamond ring.

–composite photo by me

the wind wins

rock-a-bye birdie

on the treetop

i came here today

for a photo op

but when the wind blew

my tripod did fall

and down came my camera

lenses and all

–photo by me

If I Had a Shop (archives)

If I had a shop, I would fill up the shelves

With amethyst angels and emerald elves,

Black onyx panthers with rubies for eyes,

And wee topaz fairies as blue as the skies.

I’d have cool turquoise turtles, Buddhas of jade,

And solid gold snails with diamonds in-laid;

There’d be tiger’s eye lions, quartz crystal cats,

And peridot puppies in sapphire hats.

Yes, if I had a shop, I would light up the scene

With a grand chandelier made of aquamarine.

–Image by AI

nice kitty

hey kitty kitty

your fur is so pretty–

why are you so

far from town?

with your coat of jet black

and white stripe down your back–

i will take you

and show you around.

–photo by me

ad hoc meeting

i’ve gathered you all here today

to tell you what i’ve learned:

the river ice has gone away

and bird-life has returned!

but what i really want to say

to everyone concerned

is make the time to get away–

this meeting is adjourned.

–photo by me

Crazy in the Night

My cat Freya and I were looking out at the night sky

And wondering where we might get some milk so late.

Seeing no possible solution, I somehow hurled myself

Into the starry depths of space, and, stopping long enough

To have a quick belt with Orion and to pet the Dog Star,

I grabbed the Big Dipper and rode the Horsehead Nebula

Down to the Milky Way where I filled it to the top.

Then I slid down a moonbeam to my kitchen table.

“And you thought I was crazy,” I said as I poured

The luminous liquid into her empty bowl.

“Maybe a little,” she replied.

–photo by me

Getting Along

If these three natural enemies can get along, why can’t we? In a world that seems more complex with each new generation, we find ourselves having difficulty in deciding who’s on the right side of current global altercations. The Israeli/Hamas situation is one such predicament, and choosing either side seems wrong. There is a third possibility, however:

when arguments

go on and on

it’s likely that

both sides are wrong

–Photo by me