Monday, May 14, 2012

The trip to the farm, a nine hour drive offered
ample signs of Spring each pothole, dugout or
slough boasted a complement of Green Winged Teal,
Shovellers, Pintails, Scaups, Mallards, Coots, Grebes,
Buffleheads and countless others.

Flocks of gulls claimed the roads.

At the cabin flocks of Sandhill Cranes,
and a flock of Snowgeese with the black shadows
of Cormorants for contrast flew by.

At the farm mixed flocks of Sparrows claimed the lawn
and a trip to the hardware store was rewarded by the
sight of a Fox trotting along the road and the black shape
of  a Fisher (?) slipping thru a fence.


Signs of Spring

A lash of light; across a brown stage.

The trees begin: their green dance.

                                           Guy





"Last night the geese came back,
slanting fast
from the blossom of the rising moon down
to the black pond. A muskrat
swimming in the twilight saw them and hurried

to the secret lodges to tell everyone
spring had come."

  Two Kinds of Deliverance
                            Mary Oliver



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful images, Guy, and a poem by Mary Oliver that I don't think I have read before.

Does it get better than that?

Guy said...

Hi Sandy

Thanks fo your comments I really appreciate them.

All the best.
Guy

Lené Gary said...

Hi Guy,

I love the images--all these beautiful beginnings. Your words make me wish I was there. I know so few birds.

Sandhill cranes! I would love to see them. I'm not sure what their current status in VT is, but in previous years, we had one nesting pair. One fall I had the pleasure of seeing them fly over while I was paddling on a pond near Lake Champlain.

Warmly,
Lené

Guy said...

Hi Lené

I have seen the cranes fly over but I have never seen them up close. One thing I am looking forward to when we can spend more time at the cabin is getting to know who lives where. I am sure Vesper Sparrows nest every year where our lane leaves the grid road but I would love to be able to record the comings and going of our neighbours year by year. We left a trail camera by the cabin and I am shopping for a larger lens this week to see if I can get some photos when we go back in July.

Thanks for your kind comments.
Guy

Kathie Brown said...

Guy, this all sounds so wonderful! I love the imagery! Thanks for the bits of poetry also! Just perfect!

Guy said...

Hi Kathie

Thanks for your comments.

All the best.

Guy

Wanda said...

So jealous of the Sandhill cranes! Lucky you to have them so close to your cabin!

Wanda

Guy said...

Hi Wanda

I am hoping when we can spend more time there that I can find out where all the birds I see are nesting and pay them a visit.

So much to do.

Guy