I once spent a week
sitting on a log in the sun
notebook in hand
and watched the gulls
wheeling overhead
in a danse macabre
infused with the chaos
of noise and oolichans
or strutting on the logs
in their finest livery.
My Father chuckled
watching me in earnest
recording families of gulls
at play, or hunting dinner
Glaucous in their dove grey
and cheeky Bonapartes
puffing up their chest
tiny crabs in their bills
or a stealthy Tom
hiding in the tall grass.
I once spent an evening
in blissful peace and toque
listening to Yimago Earth
on my cellphone nestled
snuggly on a pillow
beside my glasses
New age music mixed
with the sound of gulls
the rolling surf on shale
and my Fathers laughter.
ml’26
(Reading break Biology Project – 1976 – Qualicum Beach, BC – original image by ajs1980518 at pixabay.com)