Tuesday, December 31, 2013
"Big Red"
"Son of Big Red" (...a painting in acrylic by K. Annie Powell.)
"Big Red" himself has most likely passed on by now, some 15 years later.
Old Man (Manatee) Big Red
The mammoth creature began to pass under the pontoon boat
after surfacing on our side. Almost shaking, I hurry to put on the rest of my
gear as I ready myself for the water. Plunging into the water near the back
of the boat in the nick of time, I proceed to make my way forward toward the
huge sea creature. Fighting against the current, to my amazement, I am able to
come up behind the surely 15 (but feels like 20) foot beast! I slowly take in
the huge girth of his massive paddle-like tail, noticing prop marks and some
portions that are missing. I have found that this is a way to identify these
creatures without mistake; by the (more often than not) man made marks on their
tails and on their backs. This always makes me sad, of course, but I am glad to
see how they have thrived in spite of the mark man makes.
“He must be about 15 feet long,” I think! I am frightfully
careful not to disturb him as I slowly float and make my way further up along
his very broad back and belly. His girth is huge! I am amazed to see that I
cannot see around him from the top! This is an old creature--an ancient
creature. All along his back I see prolific growing seaweed (or long flowing
hair-like plants) up to three inches long or more moving to and fro in
the water’s current. This carpet of plant life on his (her) back ranges in
color from deep red to orange, and even a bit of yellow and bright lime green pop out here and
there! His back was simply a wild mosaic of color!
I squeal in delight of discovery and pat his back as if to
say “You are so old. I know you are old and I love you. You delight me!” I can
sense that this valiant creature that has survived the likes of man and years of travel through currents of water. I squeal to
him. He hears me, for the sound travels. As I carefully but deliberately pat
his back but a few times, plumes of sand and dirt expand and then rise up and up. He
is a great moving magic carpet made of algae and plant life. How old is he
(she?) What a dream to come along the path of this remarkable sea creature and
to (even) touch such a beast. It was like making the acquaintance of a huge
well-aged under water elephant. It was like being in the presence of great
wisdom. I was astonished. It becomes quiet in my soul as I marvel in the
presence of this great creature.
Monday, December 30, 2013
White Women Don’t Wear Ponytails
(Photo: Cold Sunrise)
White Women Don’t Wear Ponytails
I want to be astonished
I want to be amazed
I want to stand at the
edge of a cliff and yell out through my lungs almost half crazed.
I want to sail across the
ocean.
I want to soar up in my balloon.
I want to play a guitar
and a flute while I stand tranquil on the back side of the moon.
I want to sail as an
eagle, over the mountains so high.
It’s a wonder what a good
night’s sleep will do…I feel at least 10 foot high.
I want to bridge any
gaping holes
between countries or
peoples or friends
I want to be like the Rock
of Gibraltar
a person solid on whom people
depend.
I want to make art and
parties
and maybe marry the two
upon a yacht that I run ’round
the Cape ’cross the Atlantic
and then on over (at last)
to you…
Maybe up then to cold
Alaskan waters…
and maybe down then and back
again
trekking the globe like a
traveler light
with a map and a compass
and gin
I want to do all things today
happy and chocked full of
life
and when I rest I will lay
me down
as an Appalachian
women-mother-wife.
I want to jet up through
the sky
in an aero plane full of
my friends
and then drop down through
blankets of thermal warmed water
in scuba where I risk the
bends
When I awoke this morning
my hair stood straight up near
the top part of my head
from a tossin’ and a turnin’
all night in my dreams
as an undercover spy or as
a teacher or as a heroine in a country foreign again
White women like me over
50 don’t wear ponytails
piled up high on the top
of their heads
but today I’m gonna do my
ballet turns in my sweats
with my hair pinned up
high just the way I woke up with it in my bed.
[A sort of “Walter Mitty” I suppose I am
of women throughout time
who dream dreams of misadventure
and seek their fortune,
love and pleasure
in fancy made up games
along the way
This I offer up-a hearty “salute”
to all of my secret sisters
who like me find
themselves seeking
behind the curtain peeking
a glimpse...
of the secret life within.]
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Icy Appalachian Tree Pickin'
Hello! :-)
These are recent pics (...just about 2 weeks before Christmas) of our trip to get a Christmas tree from a tree farm on nearby Rich Mountain, NC. It was quite a day! We traveled from 4000 feet to about 4800 feet and found an icy winter wonderland waiting (at the top!)
Sweet blessings to all my friends!
~louvregirl!
:-)
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