they call them skeins of geese
not me
~as i walked home tonight~
the walk started in daylight but i came home at dusk
their calling was overarched by first one coyote call, then a clan
just letting us all know coyote business was at hand.
neighbor dogs barked in return
huffing up big chests no doubt
but the geese continued on.
i saw them as i walked, after the woodcock flushed
flew across the meadow
to a spot suitable for a few more morsels
before darkness.
and then grapes and apples and scents of other
lesser fruits assaulted my nose.
and then there were seven flurrying ducks.
i knew, knew i would see a black bear tonight. deeply.
there was a tiny cottontail
more geese,
and then two whitetail flushed so close i could see their eyes
watched their enormous tails
bouncing like those balls on the films
to follow along with the words
when i was little
flee all the way across the big meadow, and then the ecotone, there
up in the sky
only geese.
in a, as a, V
V
i never noticed they were more connected to me
than i knew
my initial
has a mapping meaning for those
fall travelers.
Another connection - I was visiting Jean in Victoria and she showed me the beautiful tiny book with the wood covers that you made. Exquisite!
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous imagery!! Thanks a moment of wonderful contemplation!!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful scene on words and images. I heard them in Massachusetts gathering before I left to return to NY. recently. The way the Fall falls out in Northern country is inspiring. I love visiting here.
ReplyDeleteheather, i hope to visit jean someday-that little coptic book was a treat to make for jean.
ReplyDeletewyn, you're welcome. it was a grand walk!
ms. fall falls out; nice!
ReplyDeletesmell& sound festival, you lucky duck ;)
ReplyDeleteneki, i am a lucky duck...er, goose?
ReplyDeletev is also for a very nice fall season. isn't it?
ReplyDeleteSkeins of geese, what a nice idea. Lovely pictures. When I hear these guys, by the time I dig my camera out of my bag, they're already in the next county.
ReplyDeleteNow I will see the V differently... as another V -named person. I actually don't see them too much, tucked under the trees, but I do hear them. Early this morning, in fact, I heard them far, far off. I love how geese honking way off in the sky bring my awareness to
ReplyDeleteVASTNESS... which might be another thing the V points to, as V's do point, though usually down. And they make good bird's beaks in computer drawings, too. OK, I'm blabbing on here as I am quietly typing away while my students are working away. So early on in the semester and I already need to bring in a sketchbook. A good sign!
we spied a 'V' in our skies a few days ago.... a flock of ibis moving in for a bit of spring tucker....
ReplyDelete(or was it you?)
jude, it is, of course
ReplyDeletealice, they're everywhere here, but the camera, she is always in my pocket!
valerie,
lovely to babble while musing while others work hard...yes, V
ronnie, well, it might be me next year, but the only tucker i know is my old dog tucky's nick name (must be more aussie talk?)
How nice to walk in your world with every natural element calling out for attention. And you, calm enough to notice...and then share. Lovely.
ReplyDeletenancy, sometimes calm...
ReplyDeletewhat an animated walk, and we along got to visualize it through your words.
ReplyDeletejean, come along with me sometime!
ReplyDeletepure poetry Velma
ReplyDeletenamaste
hey, mc, that's lovely, namaste.
ReplyDeleteI find great comfort as the V moves north and south each season here. They are always on track despite the view below.
ReplyDeletenancy, YES! their constancy matters.
ReplyDelete