Happy New Year! Plus Day 34

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,

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!