poetry

how to heal a wound

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how to heal a wound

first, you must examine it
look deep into the dark recesses
at the ugly details of the ragged edges
and damaged tissue
see it for what it is

next, remove the source of injury
extract the sharp object or word
cease the behavior that brought on the bleeding
stop tearing what’s ready to mend

now, cleanse the site
flush with tears
lay your body down in water that moves
let the offense float away

then, bind the severed bits together
thread a needle with compassion
weave it through the halves seeking whole
slowly draw opposite sides close

after that, protect the wound
administer salve and a soft cloth
apply gentle pressure
as in handshake or hug
encourage rest
keep from further harm

you are not done
you must revisit the split
check for signs of recovery
guard against infection
minimize scarring

and make whatever art you need
to invoke the gods’ protection
including giving thanks
to all those present
at your revival

poetry

fitting in

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fitting in

the pattern’s designed
with only so much wiggle room
our limits marked off
in clear straight lines

even so
we are artists
choosing how thick to lay the mortar
how even to space the edges
how close to the plan to stick

we take rigid angles
and make waves
flowers bloom
where we come together

old young in-between
we’re each getting our hands dirty
planting our own bit of soul here
trusting we’re part of the plan
and leaving something to last

photography

Many Days of Photos!

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Due to the fact that we were in Louisville for the past few days, I got behind on adding photos to the blog. I decided to do it all in one burst, and I am now posting 18 photos; my largest post ever. It includes several encounters with Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels, Red-winged Blackbirds and hummingbirds in Frisco, amazing sunsets over the mountains, our first Townsend’s Solitaires in Leadville, chickadees and hummingbirds on the deck, and a Cordilleran Flycatcher outside the driveway.

This photo was taken on the 10th, one of the few recent times when “Goldie” put in an appearance.
Goldie appeared to be sunbathing, and seemed to be unnaturally flat.
We found this Red-winged Blackbird in Frisco. It was my first RWB of the trip.
Also in Frisco I found this perched male Broad-tailed Hummingbird. You can tell it is a male by the red throat, which you cannot see well in this light.
On the 11th we got a truly spectacular sunset over the mountains.
The sunset combined orange, white, purple, and pink, for a veritable firework show above the peaks.
This is probably the most spectacular sunset we have seen here, but may not be the last.
This is a Townsend’s Solitaire, the first one we have seen at the cabin. It is a member of the thrush family and a close relative of the robin.
The Mountain Chickadees are continuing to appear at the cavity on the deck.
The Mountain Chickadees also like to perch on the sundial on the deck near the cavity.
We are still commonly seeing hummingbirds, and they have allowed me to get quite close.
The hummingbirds are very active and commonly fight over the nectar.
The hummingbirds also commonly perch in the aspen tree near the deck.
For a long period of time, Goldie strangely posed like this.
We have absolutely no idea why Goldie hunched over like this.
One theory of why Goldie hunched over like this was that it was digesting, but we cannot be sure.
Yesterday we saw this Cordilleran Flycatcher perched near the driveway.
A Cordilleran Flycatcher is in the Empidonax genus, one of the hardest to identify groups of birds in the world.
poetry

Stars Stripes and Meanders

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Stars Stripes and Meanders

unable to bring myself
to press flag stamps
on notes handwritten
to my students
we drove down the mountain into town
where the main drag
ironically had sprouted flags
overnight everywhere

puzzled by the timing
weeks before Independence Day
I approached the counter
to look over the placemat display
of current offerings:
frogs
flowers
rivers –
and did a double-take:
not just any river
Koyukuk River –
my Alaskan refuge –
my affection for it
so much less complicated
than for the ubiquitous
Forever flag stamp

as the clerk rang up
the Wild and Scenic River sheets
I said, We noticed all the flags in town.
Do you know why?
Well, she said gently,
it’s Flag Day.

Like Gary Snyder
I pledge allegiance
to the frogs
and the flowers
and the wild, scenic rivers
to Taylor Hill
and Homestake Mountain
to blue skies
and bits of glaciers
to this one blue ball –
the only home
we’ll all ever know –
so salvageable
if we weren’t so
divisible

poetry

porcupine

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porcupine

crawling up the rough road
headlights beaming a swath of light
a pile of pine needles
comes to life
straightens out
and trundles across the road
its spiky fur flops around
black at the base
tan at the tips
he’s unaware
it’s a bad hair day

aww
we all say
it’s so cute.
I want to give it a hug!
(maybe not)

in no rush at all
he’s lost in the brush soon enough
just another first
in our long year of new