Dusk to Dawn
(in my garden)

I watched the sunset in the west
spill golden waves from sky to land,
lick fiery orange tongues of flame.
How generous the Artist's hand!

I felt the shadows crowding in-
the palette change like shifting sand
to softly mingling shades of gray,
so quiet in the Artist's hand.

I saw the dark come creeping forth-
horizon etched in silver strand.
Reflections of a vibrant moon
suspended in the Artist's hand.

And then, a million tiny points
of light to help me understand
those vast expanses yet untold.
How intricate the Artist's hand.

I heard the waking song of life
arising to crescendo grand
with notes of daybreak bursting forth,
conducted by the Artist's hand.

I watched the sunrise in the east
shout golden streaks up from the land
to light the clouds with fuschia flame.
How glorious the Artist's hand!

First two redtail hawks traded cries back and forth. I don't know enough about hawks to decipher the conservation, but they sure were concerned about something. Then the sandhill cranes let us know they were on the pond. A blue heron announced his presence as well - how can such a beautiful bird have such an ugly squawk?

When a third sandhill joined the other two on the pond, it began to get noisy. Finally, the third crane decided to leave and that was when it happened - one of those moments when you just stop breathing and, to steal a Bruce Springsteen line, "you just stand back and let it all be."

The crane took off right towards the house. He manuevered between the trees where there didn't seem to be enough room for a bird of his size to fly through. Then he came out into the open and rose up to our eye level, flying past us just a few feet off the porch. You could hear the air passing through his wings with each stroke.

Too bad the word awesome lost so much meaning when it became slang, because this moment was truly awesome.

if you had to catch it first.

Nobody eats a bird with attitude,

ever tasted eagle.

So lets eat chicken.

I admire those big wild birds

I model myself on a kestrel and often wear those colours

so as not to be mistaken for a chicken.

People eat chicken.

I'm slightly envious.