The Unseen World

Gregii tulips pushing through

Canadian Chokecherry in bud

they dream beneath - II

under the cool soil
bulbs dream of spring
pray that snow will be kind
frost will not kill

tulip
grape hyacinth
iris
all smile
daydream of the rain and sun
next march
as the blankets of winter
are stored
and the soft down of spring
hovers over their bed

The poem above was written last summer when my friend Art, and I, wrote a series of poems inspired by our gardens. For some reason the last few days I have been thinking about the unseen. The plants in the garden that are emerging like the tulips pushing through the crusty soil after the little rain we had last week. So many things underground; we aren't aware of their energy or even their existence until they suddenly appear - all little miracles.

Temperatures have soared the past week hitting 80's on several days; today is cooler at 66' with plenty of sun. Not exactly a typical March, except for the breezes, but I haven't heard a complaint except the ever-present "We need the moisture." As my friend Bruce said this morning, "a rancher could have two feet of water over his head and they'd drown saying -' we needed the moisture!' " The motto of an arid homeland.

Unseen things are all around. At night I'll be watching TV with Snowy on my lap when she'll suddenly be alert and staring at something over my head and behind me. She stares for at least 2 minutes then generally jumps off my lap and goes into the kitchen. I decided that it is very possible that spirits of those we have loved do come to visit us. Cats are reputed to be able to see paranormal activity and I tend to believe it as our older cat did this too, but not as much as Snowy.

The other unseen in my life has to do with a Teddy Bear. I have a Xmas bear that has a little button on it's hand that you press and it plays Xmas carols. When Peter was alive, if we had a thunderstorm in the night we would be awakened by "silent night" which we found very amusing as the night was anything but silent at that point! Since his death Ted bursts into song for no reason. No-one touches him, there are no apparent electric charges like lightning. Sam and I have decided that "Dad" is visiting when this happens. Who knows? When Sarah came to visit last year, I was interested to see if Ted would greet her. Indeed he did, on the night of her arrival! So plants and ghosts, the unseen world is there, and wouldn't we love to know more?!

Thawing Out

daily haiku

at fifty seven

cat stays outdoors all morning

and I search for green

Hanging Woman Creek is thundering down to the Tongue the past few days, swollen with snow-melt and some rain earlier in the week. Normally it is a dirty placid body of water so it is exciting to see it in so much motion.

Golden Eagles appear to be feeding and possibly nesting under the hill and make exciting sights to watch through the big porch window. Snowy is outside as much as possible constantly checking the flower beds for the first signs of new catnip plants so that she can nibble them, come indoors, spread eagle on the kitchen floor, and look cross eyed!

Most of the snow has disappeared leaving a few patches of ice here and there. Our post office in Birney may still disappear in May. The congress has not performed their agreed task of correcting the bill that makes the USPS pay employees' retirement many years in advance. While Washington squabbles the electorate suffers, in particular those of us in rural areas. Our postmaster retires at the end of the month and I cannot help but think that USPS will use this as an excuse not to renew the position and close down. While thawing takes place all over the west the biggest thaw has not, the thaw between the U.S. House and Senate. Maybe we should send them some of my early spring catnip!