poetry

tragic

This poem was written in response to this comic, which deeply saddened one of our sons. I actually reached out to the artist to see if she might have anything comforting to communicate to him, but I have not received a response. The article explains that she drew the comic to encourage drivers to slow down for ducklings. Our kids found it by Googling “duck comic.”

tragic

all the departing souls saying
I’m so sorry
all the dying pleading
Can you say goodbye to me?

our sweet son sees a comic
of a ghost duckling
taking leave of his mama
and knows the devastating truth of it –
they’ll never know each other again

we are not the faithful it is written type
no, we’re bound to hang on to breath
and the dear flawed souls around us
with our heels dug in
teeth gritted
not taking any chances on some future homecoming
or even any afterlife

I want to shake that artist
until her own teeth rattle
and demand
What were you thinking?
There’s enough real tragedy in sight
without making him mourn
your damned duck
or his mother.
Why make his world any more sad
than tomorrow demands?

photography

Deer, Flowers, Ducks, Bear Tracks, and More!

Several days ago we noticed a female mule deer just next to the driveway! I got out, and using the car as a blind, was able to get several photos. Also, on a hike to Lily Lake yesterday I found a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and on the lake several Ring-necked Ducks. We have also had several additional sightings of Townsend’s Solitaires, and found more bear tracks coming back from Lily Lake. Additionally, on the return trip from the lake, we found a wild parsley that I took close-ups of. Here they are!

These are photos of the bear’s front paws. You can compare the size of the front paws with that of the hind paws previously posted, with my hand in both pictures.
Here you can see two of the forepaws together.
This is either a plant from the Lomatium genus or a Whiskbroom Parsley. Both have a very distinctive flower structure.
This is only the second Ruby-crowned Kinglet that I have found in Leadville, despite them calling often.
This is a male Ring-necked Duck, one of the few species of ducks to be seen at high altitudes.
Despite their name, it is very hard to see the bronze ring on the ducks’ neck.
The mule deer was very cooperative and did not react very much to my presence.
Although we did not see anything the deer frequently looked in one direction, for reasons we did not understand.
This Townsend’s Solitaire was seen on the Mineral Belt Trail, and was one of two seen in as many days.