Is the California drought over? Judging from the greening of the hills, the hopeful sight of bulbs poking through the soil, and reports that this last bout of storms brought nine inches of rain in 24 hours (!) I would venture that this has certainly made a dent in the harrowing lack of water in our state. It feels like a true Northern California Winter's day here today, a week from Solstice, the soupy grey light a sharp contrast to the dazzling green fields, the crystalline beads of water clinging to the tips of every branch and leaf and bough, . We have not had a hard freeze here in The North Bay yet, so some soggy flowers persevere. A good writing day, short on light, big on quietude. It is a glad sight and makes it truly feel like the holidays, the end of a very full and varied year.....that and my annual Wreath-making pre-mega-storm yesterday. Wishing everyone a Yule season with much to appreciate, brightness, and a healthy, joyous 2015. I am never sure who actually reads these blogs, but every writer is told to "amp up the social media," so I contribute to this page from time to time. Often, with poetry, as in the following I wrote just now:
Fern Lake
Witnessing Fern Lake
recede
these many dry months has hurt
my eyes.
I watched
on each outing as
it went from
healthy oasis, antidote to
the brown hills-
The electric cackle of a Kingfisher
as it zeroed in on a fish, dives-
& amorous duets of Mallards as they sleekly parted
its surface,
the “V’s” of their wakes forming
a second set of wings,
to a mere puddle as if someone
had pulled a plug, leaving
gaunt Egrets and angular Herons to stab
at the muddy banks
in vain.
Now it is two weeks before Yule &
the rains, at last, are back.
From my perch/my porch
the persimmons become ornaments
glossy orange
against the wet, black, bark.
The birds here, closer
to Home
are giddy, shivering
with delight
in new pools.
And the pomegranates
split wide, their
gory jewels exposed
Gape at the
drenched reveling
open-jawed,
another glistening
offering.
