I do not know what to make of this world.
As the news wheel turns,
outside the store three killed/one wounded—
That
son of a bitch!
Some words, on my mind of late:
Moral
authority.
Proclaimed by some they—they say—
Love
a Tree Day.
I couldn’t choose—the Drake elm
or Natchez crape? American
holly or Eastern redbud?
And war! War, war, war, war,
war, war, war, war, war. War.
Moral
authority.
The garlic scapes curl,
delicate loops, ready to
flower or be cut—snip!
Lyman
2022
"It is the mothers not the warriors who create a people and guide their destiny." Luther Standing Bear
"Only mothers can think of the future because they give birth to it in their children." Maxim Gorky
"Yes, Mother. I can see you are flawed. You have not hidden it. That is your greatest gift to me." Alice Walker
"When my children become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out." Erma Bombeck
"Grown don't mean a thing to a mother. A child is a child. They get older, bigger, but grown? What's that supposed to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing." Toni Morrison
"Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly." Ambrose Bierce
"It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't." Barbara Kingsolver
"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." Mark Twain
"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born." Rajneesh
"Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to 'jump at the sun'. We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground." Zora Neale Hurston
"Feeling inadequate is an occupational hazard of motherhood." Harriet Lerner
"Sooner or later we all quote our mothers." Bernard Williams
"Motherhood: the days are long, the years are short." Susan Mitchell
"Mother is a verb not a noun." Shonda Rhimes
"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts." Sophia Loren
"Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It's huge and scary--it's an act of infinite optimism." Gilda Radner
Or more correctly Vulpes vulpes. Red fox.
About a month ago, I thought I spotted a red fox one evening across the street between the neighbors' houses. First one in 4 years. Wasn't certain, the light dim, and the animal was on the move away from me.
Within a week my neighbor confirmed he had seen a fox several times on our side, and coincidentally the next morning I spotted an adult red fox trotting along behind the neighbor's fence. A pretty animal, healthy looking in the bright sunlight.
Then two weeks ago as I was leaning on my back fence one evening I spied 4--could have been 5--kits romping in the tall grass. They crept through the uncut grass like mighty hunters, pounced on one another, spun about wildly when attacked.
Such a congenial scene of a domestic bliss of sorts that I posted a blurb about it on Facebook and received a volume of reactions--positive reactions--equaling posts about my dog Max. (I think my retirement announcement generated nearly the number of responses. Nearly.)
Within a few days two adults--I would think the parents--appeared one morning. Both looked in great shape. They gave me a studied look but didn't bolt. Not, that is, until Max staggered down to the fence to roar his disapproval.
Here, I'll insert some basic research: In the wild foxes are most likely to have a 3-4 year lifespan. Our road traffic is not welcoming. The foxes, too, are small carnivores and are often killed by larger competitors.
Saturday morning as I was digging out a few rogue Bradford pears on the hillside behind my fence, I spotted a carcass out where I had seen the young foxes playing. One of the kits, badly mauled in the attack. First thought, coyote. Second, dog.
Sunday night, I spotted another casualty. Nearly mutilated beyond recognition. Again same grassy area, so close to what may have been the den. Again, simple research: 75-80% of foxes killed in their first year. A brute fact if true.
And coyotes are reported to kill foxes and just discard the bodies.
Of course, humans are the apex predator for foxes--are you surprised--through hunting and trapping, and our roadways of course.
I am sorry to see how it goes for our local fox brood. Now that they have been found out, the future for them seems dimmer and dimmer.
The woods, my friends, are dark and deep.
