Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
Shunryu Suzuki
The Woodchuck
If I had weeded the garden,
he wouldn’t have come
standing on his hind legs-
savoring dandelions
and wheat grass,
resting on an old stump
and then waddling, content,
back into the woods.
The Crow
I welcome the glossy black bird
when he comes into my yard
frequenting my feeder,
nearly too big for the pole
quivering under the weight
of his heavy body.
I do not judge
the bloodiness of his beak -
it is crow nature to eat meaty things.
I welcome him here,
in my half wild garden-
where he is not expected
to want to be.
I welcome him here -
wondering.
The Deer
Their coats, like moth-eaten clothes
imperfectly stored for the winter
are changing for summer,
shedding extra layers -
lightening
to a beautiful reddish brown.
but their eyes are still as deep
as winter.
Beauty is the moment of transition, as if the form were just ready to flow into other forms.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
What a magical week. The woods are bursting with wild things. I was actually trying to get a picture of the crow who has become a regular at the feeder when I saw the woodchuck (aka groundhog) outside my window. The crow flew off, but the groundhog was having a feast and I don’t think he even saw me.
It wasn’t until the next day that I was able to get pictures of the crow. I have to confess that I cleaned him up in the three pictures I shared. (If you want to see what he looked like before I cleaned him up, let me know!) I was afraid that there was just a little too much grossness on his beak. I feel pretty honored that he keeps coming back. I guess crows don’t normally use backyard feeders. He’s become a member of my wild family.
The deer have been a little less present in the yard lately, but I see them everywhere on my walks. I sometimes wonder if they’re wary while their coats are changing. If you know, I’d be interested.
Thank you so much for being here! I hope you have a wonderful first week of June. See you next Friday.