Wild Sides

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The tree turns into bone

while its leaves

turn into feathers

in the alabaster light

just before the sun goes down.

.

Ninety feet up

a young eagle leaps

around his nest

of sticks and straw

flapping his wings

like wide miracles

.

until the sun finally sets

and they fold again

hugging his wild sides –

every bone and feather

neatly back in place.

.

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© 2021   Betty Hayes Albright

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Inspired by watching the Redding, California eagle cam. I highly recommend! The three eaglets will fledge in 2-3 weeks.

Sorry for my absence here… hoping to eventually catch up with everyone.

Also hope you’re all well — I’ve missed you all. ❤

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Feral

.

She puts food

outside her door

for the cats

and raccoons

and the Scrub Jays –

.

and for all

who leave soft

wild footprints

in the frost.

.

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(c) 2019  Betty Hayes Albright

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Gift

….

Possum tumbles

like an old football

through branches

to the garden below.

Dazed, he snuffles

through warm leaves

climbs again

limb by slow limb

to his dozing nest

where he’ll finish his dream

of the gardener below

who is wiping her shoe

on the grass.

He thinks she is kind

and tonight

he will leave another offering.

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(c) 1997, 2017  Betty Hayes Albright

.

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Epoch

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When we raised our heads

the sky broke apart

and we saw God.

We stood on stilts

and remembered our names.

But then we saw gashes

in the garden below

and heel marks

from heavy boots.

We saw wolves and bears

pacing around us

watching our eyes

and we threw off our stilts

and danced around the fire

till Gaia was smooth and warm.

And in the circle of creatures

we remembered their names.

.

(c)  1995,  2017  Betty Hayes Albright

.

So, in Alaska it’s okay once again to murder wolves in their dens (even when they have pups), and to shoot bears from helicopters.

.

I’m re-posting this old poem again, in protest of a recent decision by our new “leader”, and wondering what will be next. Backwards we go…..

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Epoch – 2014 posting

(re-post)

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When we raised our heads

the sky broke through

and we saw God.

We stood on stilts

and remembered our names.

But then we saw gashes

in the garden below

and heel marks

from heavy boots.

We saw wolves and coyote

pacing around us,

watching our eyes.

And we threw off our stilts

and danced around fire

till Gaia was smooth and warm –

and in the circle of creatures

we remembered their names.

.

(c)  1995,  2014  Betty Hayes Albright

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