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Saturday, January 26, 2019

Saturday's Sequel re The Death of Mary Oliver




It has been eight days since I published an entry re the death of Mary Oliver, the poet I've written about here on Blogger and in social media venues. She is on my mind today as I go through my photos of squirrels, three of which can be seen at the top of this entry.

Here's a powerful poem of hers where this creature is referenced.

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you. Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice it is the season of their
many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves
and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances but it is the season
when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will
come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know
that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

None of my pictures were taken when a squirrel gnawed his or her way "through ragged building entrances," they were taken in NYC's Central and Riverside parks; but I like to think that I have Oliver's mindset re communicating with creatures and communicating with the Lord.

I'm not the best at formal prayers — using words written by others — as they feel false but I do find myself hoping that my care and appreciation for nature and the creatures who dwell in it are my prayer.

So far, it has been a very cold and bleak winter. With no snow to brighten up my surroundings, it looks a bit grim in my garden. But the many reason my garden seems grim is very few birds have been visiting it because there is a Red-tailed hawk in the vicinity.

Not only have the birds visits to my place slowed down, I haven't noticed them in the courtyard trees or on the window sills of neighboring buildings which is most usual.

Therefore I was most grateful to have a Downy woodpecker come for a visit the other day, and today, a lone Mourning dove spent hours in my garden. He stayed at a distance and did not avail himself of fresh water or sunflower seeds which I put out as soon I realized he was there. He just remained very still as he puffed up for warmth huddled near my winterized containers of flora.

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS
MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

I truly wanted to go outside and just touch his sweet head or offer him food from my hand but I respected his right to have quiet time and knew that if he was hungry or thirsty, he'd avail himself of my nourishment.

Mourning doves have come into my place before. Once upon a time in the month of March, a little dove came in and made himself comfortable by alighting on my jacket, as evidenced below.

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS
MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS
MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

And on another occasion, a small one came in and huddled by a pipe in  my kitchen, which may have been a source of warmth.

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

I'm always honored to have these birds come inside but I realize it's not good for them to do so as they have a tendency to attempt to exit through a closed window and I fear them getting a concussion.

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS
MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS
MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS
MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

I am very cautious when they enter my place and go to great efforts to see they exit without harming themselves. By the way, a Red-tailed hawk as well as woodpeckers and Morning doves are featured in my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak...

... they are a small accomplishment and a small thank you to Our Creator for giving us such awesome animals.
--------------

SEE PRESS RELEASE
Volume One: ISBN: 9780996378529
Book Seller Info: http://bit.ly/2AFZDCz
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zxVujM
Barnes & Noble On-Line: http://bit.ly/2AAnB26
book culture On Columbus (a bookstore on the UWS in NYC): http://bit.ly/2FsC1Uf

SEE PRESS RELEASE
Volume Two: ISBN: 9780996378536
Book Seller Info: http://bit.ly/2q75g8e
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DY0mz0
Barnes & Noble On-Line: http://bit.ly/2G65m6H

SEE PRESS RELEASE
Volume Three: ISBN: 978099637853
Book Seller Info: http://bit.ly/2IzH2iu
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IYkmpA
Barnes & Noble On-Line: http://bit.ly/2vedQot

EACH OF THESE BOOKS CAN BE ORDERED FROM ANY PLACE SELLING BOOKS BY GIVING THEM THE TITLE, OR ISBN, OR MY NAME, PATRICIA YOUNGQUIST.

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