Saturday, September 18, 2010

September afternoon


Once or twice a year I get a day that reminds me that while it's great to be human, we're not the whole story.

I saw a hawk struggle to carry its prey as a squirrel, no doubt kin, chased after it.

I saw hundreds, maybe thousands, of monarch butterflies wend their way south. A few hesitated at the Cape May ferry jetty, flitting at the edge of the canal. Another would come by, the two would chase each other, then together, would cross.

I saw a huge hawk moth hover like a hummingbird, unrolling an impossibly long proboscis into 4 o'clocks, Lepidoptra porn.

I saw an osprey carry a fish in its talons.

I saw small blues chase peanut bunker out of the water.





I have never regretted a single moment outside. I've been chilled to the bone, sunburned, airborne, and scared.

We belong under the sky. We'll all be under the ground soon enough.





The photo was taken a few hours ago--the bush was covered with dozens of monarchs,
as well as a few buckeyes and red admirals, wasps and bees.
It was like Peaceable Kingdom for the Six-Legged.

5 comments:

Mary Ann Reilly said...

The images are fabulous.

Charlie Roy said...

@ Doyle
I had some similar thoughts today driving home from my brother's wedding. The five hour jot from Fort Wayne to Peoria takes you through some beautiful farmland. Seeing the beans golden and the corn being harvested with a bright sun and beautiful clouds was an unexpected treat.

Unfortunately I put to death many a butterflies against the windshield of my car.

This Brazen Teacher said...

Have you ever read 'Last American Man' by: Elizabeth Gilbert. If you haven't... you would like it.

If you have, I would love to know what you think.

doyle said...

Dear Mary Ann,

Given your phenomenal eye, that made my day. My week. Maybe my year.


Dear Charlie,

You grow a garden, no? We do, indeed, slaughter a lot, but recognizing what we do is a start.

And gardening covers a lot of sins. Awareness even more.


Dear Brazen,

No, I haven't. Given I trust your advice, I need to add that to my list.

This Brazen Teacher said...

Eustace Conway: one of the few (if only) men in this country living entirely outside of modern society.

The book is his life story and personal mission: reconnect people to the earth. He acquired 1000 acres of Appalachian land without working for someone else and uses it to educate children. It's like a camp... but no cabins, no running water, no food hall... the real deal.

As I scan your posts from my summer hiatus... I think of Eustace. You're like the public school version. :-)