Category Archives: Animals and Insects

Snow White Whistles with the Birds

03 Tuesday Apr 2018

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There are seven of them,
whistling, so pert and happy
while I lie in bed, yawning and sleepy
(maybe even a little grumpy)
at being awakened so early.

Muddled and dopey from sleep,
I shuffle to the bathroom and
bashfully look in the mirror
at my snow white image.
I splash cold water on my face,
as if a Doc “on call.”

More awake now, I make my way
to the east window to let in
the fresh morning breezes.
I close my eyes as I sneeze, only
to find when I open them,

Spring has inhabited the earth.
The disappearance of winter
is like an awakening in me,
I embrace the new day and
find myself whistling a happy tune.

7 birds perching

4/3/18

Pondering Hibernation

22 Wednesday Feb 2017

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Sleeping bear graphic

I prepared for winter as if a bear,
eating enough to store a little fat,
prepping my den with soft bedding
and surrounding myself with my
favorite things before thinking about
curling up like a ball of furry fluff.

Then the cold came, and I hunkered in
my corner, ready for hibernation to begin.
Well, eight hours later, I woke to the
pressing needs of primal functions,
cramps in muscles I didn’t know I had,
and hunger growling through my tummy.

How do they do it? The bears,
the reptiles; the bees and the bats?
How do they slow their muscles down,
close their minds to their surroundings
and let sleep overtake their bodies?

Do they eat until they get drowsy,
simply too tired to move?
Do their bodies naturally adapt
to the changing environment?
Or do they meditate into quietude,
re-awakened with the spring?

Just wondering…

Shedding to Grow

17 Friday Feb 2017

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Sneaker in grass

Sloughed off from a
lengthy body, the
tunnel of snakeskin
in the grass still surprises me,

the thought that he’s
outgrown himself again a
little intimidating; well, actually,
quite frightening. Yet,

I’m not concerned when I find
leather uppers lying in the lawn,
flung off because they are too small
for the young boy out there.

I know he chose to shed the shoes
so he could go farther faster;
and I may shed a tear or two
as he stretches and grows;

but, we all bask together
under the same sun,
shedding and growing until
day is done.

New Year’s Eve 2016

31 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Animals and Insects, Election 2016, Life

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Night street through blinds

It was that kind of year–
Politicians rankled the masses,
Thugs roamed the streets,
People died needlessly.

A Year of the Monkey, they said.
Two thousand sixteen, it was,
and as its namesake implies,
a wildly mischievous child,

searching, perhaps for an escape,
peeking through window blinds
as the new year comes into view,

wondering whether 2016 will leave
when the window is opened
to welcome 2017 in.

Shopping Like a Tiger

10 Saturday Dec 2016

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Slow and stealth like a tiger,
I weave through the holiday browsers,
dodging ribboned mines of packages,
children being tugged through the menagerie,
and rivulets of sodas splashed onto the floor.

I am preying upon the store that
advertised the ultimate selection of
gifts for the whole family, and I sense
that I must be quick and agile if
I’m to acquire my targeted gifts and
return to my den unscathed.

Flying to New Heights

23 Saturday Jan 2016

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Flock of birds going toward trees

Whoopa, whoopa, whoopa,
echoed the air as they flew in,

their dark feathers stark
against the cold, gray sky.

Drawn to our berry-laden trees, their
beaks quickly filled with winter fruits,

juices dribbling down their breasts as they sampled the fare,
seeds spilling out as they reached for more.

It’s wasn’t long before the roof above me
sounded as if it were caving in, the

thunderous bohm, bohm, bohm
as hundreds of birds pounced upon landing.

Drops of water sloshed over the gutter
as they drank at the ready trough of melted snow.

I couldn’t help but watch as they regathered
in formation, no fighting over leadership,

no squawking or squealing or even chittering,
just a gentle breeze of whoooo as they took flight,

completely satisfied with the simplest of things…
a full tummy, a quenched thirst, and

renewed strength to reach great heights
in the company of friends.

The Raven

19 Tuesday Jan 2016

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Raven bird

Today is January 19, birthday of Edgar Allan Poe, author of the famous poem, “The Raven.” I was curious, so I did some searching today and was fascinated by the variety of beliefs about Ravens. We chose the name Raven Books for our writing/publishing company as a representation of the positive influence Ravens have had on our lives, but obviously not eveyone believes as we do.

Do you believe in the symbolism of the Raven as depressing, as Poe divulged in his poem, or do you believe in other lore of the Raven as magical, or as a protector? Are you one who goes straight to the facts and believes the high intelligence of the Raven, able to be trained to speak? or the metaphysical view that ravens can predict the future?

The Lizard

17 Thursday Sep 2015

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Lizard

He was small and dark,
not the stereotypical kind;
But he left a lasting impression
as he skittered and passed me by.

Now, I’m pretty easy going if
we remain in our separate homes;
But he broke the code established
when he entered my domain,

I know his cute tail wagging
was not a fond hello;
But like army infantry,
he was sliding toward a goal.

I was glad to give a hand
and carry him to the door;
But it’s imperative our socialities
are strictly held outdoors!

Dancing to Different Beats

01 Tuesday Sep 2015

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We looked deeply into each other’s eyes,
Your head held high and proud,
Mine slightly lowered and held fast as we
Passed in the grass.

I spoke briefly, noticing how you had grown
Through the summer,
And thankfully you didn’t hiss a reply
But smoothly glided on,
The perfect glissade to my Texas two-step
In the opposite direction.

Mi Yarda es su Yarda

26 Sunday Jul 2015

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As if in a boxing match,
a quick meeting in the middle
signaled the beginning.

We watched each other carefully,
uncertain if or who
should take the first step.

I slowly inched backward,
not daring to take my eyes off him
in fear of a deadly strike.

He eyed my action as one of concession
and declared himself the winner,

blades of grass swaying with his rhythm as he
slithered through the yard he now claims his own.

Learning Compassion

05 Sunday Jul 2015

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I thought I knew compassion,
but when I looked into his eyes,
I knew I’d never felt that way.

The tenderness he offered a lost dog,
the inner need he had to help,
to makes things better for her
brought warmth to my heart.

Then I watched his seven-year-old eyes swell with tears
as they walked the streets and found her owner.
The dog of his dreams was gone,
returned to her scared and punitive owner,
and his heart was breaking.

As I watched this young boy walk away,
head hanging, brown eyes saddened by the struggle,
I knew he was learning doing the right thing
can feel wrong sometimes,
but I could also see that he can’t help but be who he is,
and that he’d do it again.

Power of a Raindrop book

06 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by in Animals and Insects, Art, Children, Family, Health, Humor, Inspiration, Life, Love, Mountains, Nature, Philosophy, Seasonal, Weather, Writing

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Power of a Raindrop cover

I’m excited to share that I now have a book of poetry, Power of a Raindrop, published and available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through the publisher. If you order from the publisher, the first 10 to order will receive 15% off the retail price. http://shop.ravenbooks.net.

Aardvark

01 Wednesday Apr 2015

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You may think me a blended breed

of pig, kangaroo, and bear;

but I’m really quite unique,

the last of the species breed.

 

I’m not that small of stature,

but my strength is in my toes;

I’ll dig and burrow deep

in search of my favorite prey.

 

I knock their houses down

but unlike the famous wolf,

I don’t announce I’m coming

and I don’t huff and puff.

 

I don’t hunt for food in daytime,

the light hurts my tiny eyes;

besides, they’d see my coming

and scatter different ways

 

My palate is quite selective,

and presentation is key—

I like my termites sub-style,

affixed to my foot-long tongue.

 

I’m not usually this social

nor verbose as I am tonight,

so I’ll quit ere I get tongue-tied,

for that would ruin my life!

 

4/1/15

 

I read a poetry challenge to write on a subject starting with letter ‘A’ and write in negation.   Being April Fool’s Day, I couldn’t resist having a little fun with it.

Never a Free Ride

27 Friday Jun 2014

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Oxpecker on rhinoceros

Beautiful little oxpecker
atop the rhinoceros;

why doesn’t Rhino protest
as you perch upon his back?

Do you tickle his fancy as
you clean bugs from off his skin;

Or are free meals and transportation,
reward for screeching warnings
about dangers far and near?

No matter the rhyme or reason
for your symbiotic life,

You bear homage to the adage,
“There are no free rides anywhere.”

Photo: Red billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) on rhino.Sabi Sands, South Africa. Photo by Lee R. Berger. Attribution: Profberger at en.wikipedia

A Bone to Pick

25 Wednesday Jun 2014

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Mama sat outside and watched,
not saying a word, as
her dogs fought over a toy bone.

She saw Rover snarl and
Tiny retreat, then watched
Rover and bone disappear.

Mama patiently waited
for Rover to come back,
then threw him a ball to chase.

As if King of the mountain,
he ran for the ball,
unaware of the closing door.​

After a while, he became
bored with himself and
turned to find his old “friend.”

But as you might surmise,
Tiny wasn’t outside, but
within the comfortable house.

Through the patio door,
Rover could clearly see a
real bone in Tiny’s mouth.

Now, it seems clear to me that
   a bone to pick should be
   chosen most carefully.

Looking Through Her Eyes

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

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If I could see what she actually
sees as snippets of life
come her way for the very first time,
everything so fresh and new, yet
words unavailable to her,

I would have lots of colors and
movement in everything, with
laughter and excitement everywhere.

I would float with the butterflies,
swirling colors to brighten the world.

I would sing with nightingales,
trilling tones of comfort and cheer, and

I would dance like a fairy princess,
bestowing happiness with my wand.

There would be pure wonder and joy
as I looked at life through her eyes,
the eyes of a child.

 

Child smiling

My Great Ant

11 Wednesday Jun 2014

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I watch in amazement as the ant seems to
scurry around, ferrying her quintuple load as if
it were light as a feather instead of
the weight of an elephant.

Even as the burden attempts to take her down,
she is unfazed by the enormity of the task.
Aware that I’m watching doesn’t change her, either;
She neither prances nor flounders on my account
but chooses to travel merrily along her path.

I, too, shall live like the ant,
neither whiny about my shortcomings
nor boastful of my strengths,
as I enjoy traveling my own path.

Into the Wind

14 Wednesday May 2014

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20140514-202151.jpg

Ever notice birds perched on a electrical line? Did you happen to notice if they were all facing the same direction? Did you by chance notice if they were facing a particular direction, say due South? Turns out, birds choose to face into the wind while on the wire and often in flight. The compass direction does not matter. Why? They use the wind for added lift when returning to flight. It also smooths rather than ruffles their feathers, creating less drag.

Moral of this story:

Like birds on a wire on a windy day,
facing adversity head on will smooth the way.

I wish I were a puppy, for…

07 Wednesday May 2014

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when I’d give you puppy eyes,
you’d smile and reach out to hold me,
and I’d jump at the invitation.

As you held me in your arms,
you’d be covered in wet kisses;
then we’d settle in for the evening
snuggling on the couch.

Since I could see better in the dark,
I’d protect you from all harm;
and as you peacefully slept,
I’d be right there by your side.

We’d tell each other secrets
and share our hopes and dreams;
We’d be the best of friends,
forever and till the end.

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Missing You

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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Staring pensively,
I keep watching
for you to come home.
I can’t remember how long
you’ve been gone,
but I miss you so.

I’m sure sitting listlessly
won’t bring you back
any sooner, but
I just can’t seem to focus
on anything but you.

We have such fun
when we’re together,
and I get so lonely
when you’re not here.

May wishing you here,
make it so.

Lovingly,

Fido

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