Emergence

Emergence

Emergence by Henry Hughes Photo by Henry Hughes Emergence         Ankeny Wildlife Refuge The Rail Trail’s shotgunned sign, squashed masks, and slick boardwalk are engagements of neglectthat don’t faze the song sparrow, the wrenriding out winter among the purple leaves...
Return

Return

Return by Penina Ava Taesali-Matthews Photo by John Lewis Matthews Return You are here. Use your good ear. Sense there, high at one-o-clock, on that dead snag, two adult bald eagles. One lifts its head chortling to the sun. Winter rains restore the marsh. We are good...

Bird Time, Baskett Slough

Bird Time, Baskett Slough by Lex Runciman Photo by Lex Runcimain Bird Time, Baskett Slough Under winter geese-talk descending, we’re listening to, listening forsmall staccato, ratchet and chatter, pure notes, four notes, lilt and lull, repeating – not exactly call and...

Dissolution Song

Dissolution Song by Karen Holmberg Photo by Karen Holmberg Dissolution Song          Finley Wildlife Refuge ∴ Nothing’s lost or done for. Untold gillions toil and till, slit tight hulls, unshroud. A gust tussles lung lichen, tousling the old god’s suit to loosen dusty...
What Stories

What Stories

What Stories by Eleanor Berry Photo by Richard Berry What Stories          Baskett Slough The summer drought has stretchedwell into September. From all the great marsh, no mirrorsflash sky back to our eyes, no gabbling conversationreaches our ears. On the slopes, the...
Rabbit Ears

Rabbit Ears

Rabbit Ears by Charles Goodrich Photo by Rick Hafele Rabbit Ears          Finley Wildlife Refuge If you’re lucky enough to see one close-up and back-lit, you’ll notice the skin on the inside of the Eastern cottontail’s oversized ear is coursing with rivers of red...