Gerry the crow

my name is Gerry and I am a crow 

we are members of the corvid family

my cousins are ravens jays and magpies 

us crows are very intelligent birds

smarter than some primates

probably smarter than a lot of humans

if you see us all falling about laughing

its probably over the dumb antics of a human 

we do get a bad rap from other birds

I admit that we occasionally steal their eggs 

but they always lay plenty more

to be sure their own species survives

crows are despised by humans

they use our name to insult women

we crows are much more civilized

I married Dahlia three years ago

I would never stoop so low to call her an old human

we are a devoted couple and will stay together for life

unlike other birds who are polygamous

you will never see a crow at a bird swapping party

why do so many humans cheat on their partners

no wonder almost half human marriages end in divorce

we crows are civilized and live together in a family group

our sentries keep a lookout for owls and hawks

humans call a group of crows a murder

another example of how rude they can be

we crows use tools to get food

dropping hard shells onto rocks for example

some humans cannot even open a can of beans

humans are so wasteful with their food

we know how to open trashcans to get their leftovers

our ancestors were persecuted by humans

they tried to shoot us all to extinction

crows would never participate in such ethnic cleansing

we got smart and moved to the cities and suburbs

nobody shoots crows in urban areas

we often witness humans shooting each other though

The amorous owl

darkness shrouds the bay late evening

the marsh settles down to sleep

intense blackness amplifies every sound

footsteps of a deer leaving the forest

seeking out green pastures to graze

birds have settled down to roost

small mammals find shelter and rest

raccoons come out to play in gangs

looking for mischief like unruly teenagers

suddenly an owl hoots

hoot hoot

deadly silence follows his call

potential prey seek deeper cover

fearing this nocturnal hunter may attack

the raccoons briefly pause

they know an owl can take them down

the owl hoots again

hoot hoot

a second owl answers his call

hoot hoot 

hoot hoot

She is saying I am over here

I am coming to visit you he hoots

hoot hoot

hoot hoot

the raccoons burst into laughter

fits of raccoon giggles over amorous owls

Suddenly the owl swoops by

raccoons all run for cover in panic

the owl flies on towards his mate

he knows he can find food later

he has other plans right now

deer continue nocturnal grazing totally unabashed

hoot hoot

hoot hoot

the delinquent raccoon gangs decide to call it a night

Air

still air

need new air 

blow winds blow

freshen up this stale air

bring me new air from afar

air that has touched many faces

air full of ghosts from forgotten times

air that was exhaled by giant whales in the ocean

air that kept aloft majestic eagles soaring over mountains

air that once filled hot air balloons drifting silently at sunrise

air that was used to speak the most famous speeches

air that pushed sailing ships to new discoveries

air from the first breath of a baby

mysterious air

silent air

air

Rock on

I like rocks

they are good to hold

rough ones are originals

bits of broken mountain

carried around by ice age glaciers

abandoned when the glaciers melted

buried in soil for thousands of years

a time capsule waiting for you

collect enough and you could 

rebuild that old mountain

smooth ones have been shaped

by centuries of tumbling in rivers

pick one up and examine it

feel the history in your hands

telling stories to your fingers

put it to your ear

listen to that ancient music

of roaring rivers and babbling brooks

collect a bunch of them

listen to them all together

have a rock concert

Manatees patiently waiting

Great beast of South Florida

Meandering through bays

Searching for food

You have no natural enemies

Causing no harm to others

Moving slowly like underwater grazing cows

Gracefully surfacing for air

Revealing your immense size

And your battle scarred back

Viciously hacked by passing boats

Their propellers show no mercy

Creating savage wounds sometimes fatal

But you never fight back

You hold no grudges

Against those who maim you

Mankind is unkind

Invading your habitat

Stealing your lands

Polluting your food supply

You were here long before us

You endure our bad behavior

Patiently waiting for humans to die off

You shall one day reclaim your kingdom

Without a fight

Make the best of everything you have

They say if you can’t have the best of everything, make the best if everything you have

I woke up this morning and studied the trees outside my bedroom window

Gold, rust, deep red, orange and green were all on display

Autumnal colors are just about peaking in this area

Its costs nothing but a few moments in time to be in awe of this dynamic explosion of nature’s palette

I took a walk along a wooded trail

Stepping on a carpet of fresh fallen leaves

They rustled and swished under my feet

Urging me to look down at their fallen display

Their last hurrah before mulching into the winter soil

I picked up a few brilliantly colored leaves on the trail

Brought them home and pressed them in a book

I will bring them out some time in the future

To relive these beautiful autumn moments

Leaves keep falling

Seasons march on

A spectator pauses to make memories

Make the best of everything you have today

The forest

img_9339

The forest was still and quiet

Dawn broke to reveal the  a lush green canopy

Darkness clung to the interior

Hiding the inner secrets of the forrest 

The rising sun lit up the tall trees

Rugged bark glowed bright orange

A burning ember in the first moments of the day

Darkness slunk away from the interior

A thick carpet of leaves adorned the forest floor

Deer crept out cautiously to munch in the fields

Ears twitching alert to danger

Big eyes scanning for any sudden movement

Rabbits hopped along the edge

Seeking a vegetarian treat from the well manicured gardens nearby

The little dawn raiders munched on fresh shrubbery shoots

While homeowners slept soundly dreaming of their beautiful landscaping

A woodpecker hammered away seeking out hidden grubs

Squirrels scurried up trunks like olympic rock climbers

Butterflies came in droves seeking a nectar liquid breakfast

Bright flowers welcomed the pollinating bees

Leaves fluttering in the light breeze as the trees danced

A slow rhythmic dance in celebration of life

The living forest is a home for plants, animals and insects galore

Beneath the soil the mycelium is hard at work weaving white threads

Fungi consume dead trees 

The forest is fully awake now

plan your daily do nothing moment

I like to get up early

get away from everything electronic

step outside

just me and nature

its my planned daily do nothing moment

take a deep breath

listen to my heart beat

wait for the sunrise 

in awe that its so different every day

watch the birds fly by

see the colors in the sky slowly change

try to figure out which way the clouds are drifting

follow the wind making ripples on the water

notice how lush green the marsh is today

observe a waterman tending to his crab pots

he glides effortlessly from one pot to the next

pulls up each one with minimal effort

he is totally in rhythm with nature

 a harvester of crops from the bays

he moves on up the creek

his small boat makes a low wake

which soon disappears 

he leaves no footprint

 a heron flies overhead 

he makes a gangly awkward landing

takes a few measured steps in the shallows

then he waits and waits and waits

eventually his breakfast will swim along towards him

but in the meantime

he is having his do nothing moment

the battle of the lawn has ended for us

I have spent many hours in my lifetime doing lawn care

Mowing grass twice a week in the summer

Watering during periods of drought

Fertilizing in the spring

A nicely manicured lawn looks so pretty

But its not meant to be like that

Natural grass should grow long and seed

It should go brown in the summer heat

Our desire to have that perfect putting green lawn

Commits us to a regime of constant care

Seeking and destroying every uninvited weed

It becomes a battle where you can never declare victory

We made a conscious decision in our current home

Purchasing a house in a golfing community

The HOA does all the landscaping and lawn care

The battle of the lawn has ended for us