New Challenge

Today, at Lake Jackson, while on another solo writing retreat of silence and solitude, as the guest of one dear friend, and while parallel writing with another from a distance, I begin a new yearlong challenge for Backyard Spectator. Only one rule: no rules. Except to record in words an observation made in nature, but for the simple act of paying attention. 

Might be a haiku… a free verse…a short essay…a line…a single word…

May or may not be accompanied by a photo…

Might be daily, weekly, monthly, or oddly…

Eager to see what the year will bring. 

Today’s observation on the lake:

      NOW

Ten Canada geese 

lined up on the railroad ties

alert and ready for yet another

day of surviving the world 

at the water’s edge.

Tall black necks, unseen eyes,

stark white cheeks, heavy oval bodies,

sturdy stick legs, wide webbed toes curled

around the top corner of the top tie they stand on.

In unison

watching, craning, preening, 

alerting, stretching, squatting

until some imperceptible signal says

 “Now.”

In a sudden noisy flapping burst they take off and

fly low over the glass, spread-winged

and together

in the safety of their ten.

~dkm  8/21/2021