Monday, July 28, 2014



1
Sometimes in the open you look up
where birds go by, or just nothing,
and wait. A dim feeling comes 
you were like this once, there was air,
and quiet; it was by a lake, or
maybe a river you were alert
as an otter and were suddenly born
like the evening star into wide
still worlds like this one you have found
again, for a moment, in the open.

2
Something is being told in the woods: aisles of
shadow lead away; a branch waves;
a pencil of sunlight slowly travels its
path. A withheld presence almost
speaks, but then retreats, rustles
a patch of brush. You can feel
the centuries ripple generations
of wandering, discovering, being lost
and found, eating, dying, being born.
A walk through the forest strokes your fur,
the fur you no longer have. And your gaze
down a forest aisle is a strange, long
plunge, dark eyes looking for home.
For delicious minutes you can feel your whiskers
wider than your mind, away out over everything. 

Atavism by 
William Stafford

My first photos of one of the beavers that are
denuding our property of aspen. Also as a species
an animal which played an enormous role in shaping 
our country. The photos were taken from our screened 
in porch and therefore a bit fuzzy.





Shaun and Whateley prepare for the long journey home.


Traveling thru parkland and prairie we meet fellow travelers. 




  



"There are rooms in a life, apart from the others, rich
with whatever happens, a glimpse of moon, a breeze.
You who come years from now to this brief spell 
of nothing that was mine: the open, slow passing
of time was a gift going by. I have put my hand out
on the mane of the wind, like this, to give it to you."
                                        
 from Little Rooms
                         by William Stafford








4 comments:

Kathie Brown said...

Beautiful photography today, guy! I love seeing the pronghorns and the scenery shots are gorgeous! How nice to have beavers for neighbors. They always make me think of Narnia! Love the poems, as always!

WildBill said...

Haven't been in pronghorn country in years. I once laid down in a deep ravine while an entire herd jumped over the ravine about 50 feet away. It was like watching a wave of pronghorns.

Guy said...

Hi Kathie

I loved the beavers in the Naria book they were such homey characters. I have to admit the relentless denuding of our property is starting to wear on me but they only go so far from the water and as my brother in law says it's aspen it comes back fast. The beavers wouuld probably say they were there first.

Oh well.

Thanks for stopping.
Guy

Guy said...

Hi Bill That sounds amazing, I find pronghorn among the most amazing animals I see. They are just so different. We have none by the cabin and I just see the odd one or two as we drive along the southern leg of our trip. I would love the kind of close encounter you experienced.

Regards
Guy