Friday, January 21, 2011

like life itself


i like to find these little places
where the animals come to drink

i wonder at what passes through their minds
as they approach such a spot

carefully reading the snowy indentations
of others
who have passed this way before

listening for sounds
and sniffing the air for scents
that suggest companionship
or danger

and then cautiously
lowering their heads
to lap the still water

i like to find these little places
because they are so much
like life itself

8 comments:

Elisabeth said...

Those tiny footsteps leading to water and life complete the scene for me, Steven. No wonder you like to find such traces of life. They are exhilarating.

Jinksy said...

But life's "little places" offer us different sustenance...And I know you know all about that! :)

steven said...

elisabeth - on the day i took these two photographs i spotted a lot of coyote tracks and most amazingly a set of wolf tracks that i crossed with my own. super cool!! steven

steven said...

jinksy - exactly!! those footprints are evidence of other little life-wanderers also making their way through this plane of existence. steven

Reya Mellicker said...

This is especially beautiful, Steven. I wonder what does come into their minds?

Do you ever read Monkeys on the Roof? Val watches animals, I believe for a living, in Botswana. She keeps track of where they bathe and drink. Though not a poet as you are, she is connected to the land there.

Thanks for this!

Valerianna said...

I love snow-stories...but, I think you know that!

Pauline said...

Wolf tracks!

We are reminded again and again when we allow ourselves to see, that we share the world with others besides ourselves.

Lovely post!

Friko said...

The little places are the ones that matter.
I love the photo with the footprints leading to the water hole.