Season of Flying Things

my observations sitting outside as the sun sets

It is the season

of flying things

birds

wasps

cicadas

desert wrens chattering

doves softly singing

repetitive evening song

human voices call in the distance

doves settle into trees

quail families running in orderly lines

newly hatched life following elders

 

Tarantula Hawk

biggest of wasps

most painful of stings

buzz by my head

orange wings on metallic blue body

lands on fragrant Tenaza flowers

sip nectar

air thick and heavy

monsoon moisture building

I am insignificant here

 

Tiny lizards new to the world

run near my feet

smaller than my smallest finger

hovering hummingbirds

silent night hawks soar by

here the desert envelopes me

singing of community

welcoming

woodpecker talks to her children

perched on the edge of a Saguaro hole

I am no different that the tiny striped lizard

searching for sustenance among the fallen leaves

 

Bats arrive in the form of dark delightful butterflies

fluttering and circling overhead

Mesquite seed pods fall to the ground at my feet

offering food

is this a gift for me?

I give thanks to the tree

collect the seed pods

no other place gives so much

could it be that this place has accepted me?

I often witness food

falling from trees and cactus

for each gift I give thanks

I know that by receiving these gifts

I become part of the desert community

what can a human give to the land in return?

why didn't my ancestors teach me how to properly accept these gifts?

trees are teaching me instead

knowledge has not been lost only silenced

more pods fall from the tree

as if the tree is asking me to stay

I tell the tree that I will return

next lesson to be learned while sleeping under protective branches

below the tree where many birds sleep

Reviews

[Laughing-Bear]

My Dear Writing Friend,
Your poem reflects the truths we First Nations peoples have understood since the beginning of Deep Time or as some call it Way Back Time. Your wisdom and spirit is more First Nations than many First Nations peoples. One of our greatest leaders that believed in the truth of Deep Time, lessons found in nature, was Chief Yellow Lark, a Sioux Chief. In 1887 he prayed this prayer.

Oh Great Spirit
whose voice I here in the winds,
whose breath gives life to the world, hear me…
I come to you as one of your many children,
I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom.
May I walk in beauty.

Make my eyes behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made,
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may know
the things you have taught your children,
the lessons you have written in every leaf and rock.

Make me strong, not to be superior to my brothers,
but to fight my greatest enemy-myself.
Make me ready to come to you with straight eyes
so that when life fades as the fading sunset
my spirit may come to you without shame.

This great man understood that lessons could be taught to us, these lessons were written in every leaf and rock. You poem ask, “What can a human give to the land in return”? The answer is in Chief Yellow Lark’s prayer. “Make my hands respect the things you have made”! Respect my friend is what you can give back to the land, and that my friend you already do. I shall call you from this time forth “Alleqaq Cakaar Eluciq”. This translates to Sister Respects Nature.

Blessings, Ggagga Nk’dlih or in English Laughing-Bear

[Larry Dyson]

really detailed but flowing description of the flying things in the desert... and the tree which experiences them..

[moonbeam40]

I GOT LOST IN YOUR WONDERFUL DESCRIPTION OF YOUR POEM, SEASON OF FLYING THINGS, YOU ARE IN TUNE WITH NATURE WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING, I BELIEVE THAT ALL HEALING IS IN NATURE, AND NOT IN CHEMICALS ,A LOVELY READ THANKYOU :) Moonbeam.

[Gomer LePoet]

Dreamer you paint a glorious picture as always. breathing in nature with all of our senses one can sometimes feel the return of those memories of early humans, when we were as much a part of the earth as all the other creatures.
thanks for sharing!

[Hotwater]

I enjoyed this write, you captured the way it is, well done to you. Nature will respond to the human "aggressiveness"... in time.
*bird*

[pheasant]

A beautiful blending of woman and nature. This piece carries an aura of respect and reverence for the natural world.

[Aura Inanna]

This poem feels sweet. I could really see you wandering the desert, the dark butterflies overhead and the kind trees offering up sustenance. It seemed perfect. And I thank you for it, it really has inspired me.
Amazing.
;) ~Aura

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I just love how you turn all of nature into a positive thing...

Bats arrive in the form of dark delightful butterflies
fluttering and circling overhead
Mesquite seed pods fall to the ground at my feet
offering food
is this a gift for me?

Such a wonderfully inspirational piece.

[Star Wolf]

Nature is a gift to us. Reading your awesome poem made it seem like I was walking there and seeing all that you were seeing and feeling all that you were feeling. This is wonderful writing, it brings the reader right in with you.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

I have never visited a desert but as I read your poem I felt as if I were there. Such wonderful imagery you have painted with your words.......