January
In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was God
He created heaven, earth, beast and bird
Adroitly accomplished at the Deity’s nod
Borned man and mate to populate the land
Gave them four seasons to keep rhythm-time
All synchronized by His directing hand
To the marching cadence of a perfect rhyme
Crystal froze wave light sculpture flows
Frigid wind howls in the cold dark night
Blizzard white cloud in moon aura glows
’Til each tiny snowflake sparkles quite bright
Across frozen water winter coats skate
Down hill races a child on stark red sled
Spring buds sleep as they patiently wait
Winter sun’s warmth mostly has fled
Earth’s beauty caught in a black and white frame
Daguerreotype picture in various grey shades
January winter-white, the canvas’ stark terrain
It’s Painter brushed evergreens into dark glades
Bony limbs stretch through a burnished bronze sky
Beckon unarrived birds adorn winter-bare trees
Sings Chinook-wind honoring heaven on high
True harbinger of springtime, the spirit it frees
Plus:
Day 34
Beth killing the
blacksnake in the chicken
house while Dad
was gone on business
Seldom
did I ever allow “business” get in the way of my “family”-time; but---it did
happen…occasionally! When it came up and I could find no way to “rationalize”
the incursion away, I made the most of the “necessity” and also exercised extreme
economy of action to conclude the interruption in the least amount of time away
from home. At that, I was successful.
So,
I’m off on some “big deal” (and, some actually were “really” big deals) when a
marauding blacksnake decided on an “egg” delectable foray on our chicken coop.
Those critters absolutely love fresh
eggs; no “fresher” supply than a farmer’s chicken house. Voila!
Problem
is: Snakes and people do not often mix well; thus, a problem generally solved
with the demise of the serpent. I have allowed the “sneaky-crawlers” to
co-exist whenever they minded their manners; if they behave like a “pit-viper”
with a toothache, they have to go.
As
a sprig, about five years old, I witnessed my mom killing a rattlesnake; that
frame still haunts my mind some sixty-plus years later. She told me that if you
break a snake’s back, it can’t move; with a sharp crack to its back with a hoe
or the backside of a rake, the animal becomes paralyzed. Then, with the serpent
immobile, the only decision left is the manner-of-demise.
Such
“barbaric” violence might seem cruel; decide for yourself, a possibly “lethal”
viper-strike or the conclusion of a “humane” dispatch of a dangerous
interloper. Personally, I have not come face-to-face with a rattler; if I do,
he loses! I have, on occasion put a few copperheads out of my misery, but, in
honesty, I have allowed some to go on their merry way, unharmed. Depends mostly
on where I find the critters---and…also, on their reaction to the
“human” interloper into their personal area. “Live and let live” is an appropriate compromise,
“human” interloper into their personal area. “Live and let live” is an appropriate compromise,
Well,
Mr. Sneaky-snake in the chicken house is not an acceptable situation; had I
been home at the time, I would have also dispatched the unwelcome visitor to
our little farmstead.
Beth
was about thirteen or fourteen when the incident transpired; she handle it,
admirably.
I
taught both our girls to shoot at an early age instilling responsibility and
safety into their understanding of right and wrong as a condition in their
maturing process. Both are good shots.
That
day of the blacksnake adventure, Beth showed her “cool” and good
decision-making---one shot…one kill! Bravo!
My “lacking” mentoring paid off, the kids were excellent students.
Taking
“life”, even of a potentially “dangerous” problem, is never an easy decision;
sometimes, the un-pleasant just has to be done by the person at hand! Good job! Beth!
I
love my family more than life, itself, and am always proud of them; often they
go beyond the call. Never do any have to “prove” anything to my benefit; my love is truly “unconditional”!
Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet Memories!
