Fyke Members Night Slideshow

Mill Creek Marsh November 11, 2018

album

seeing spots

A pattern of visual notes glimmering on the lake

Reflecting spots of sunlight dancing on the waves

Seen looking that way facing the direct sunlight

Squinting into the full on bright beam radiation.

We were walking south along the shore path

Scuffling through the November leaf litter

On a warm enough day to enjoy a hike

Taking in the beauty of the passing scene.

My camera failed to focus on the sparkles

Creating a soft image of clustered circles

Unlike the points of light that twinkled on my retina

Effecting something lovely to be seen later.

But there are spots you never want to see

The ones that were revealed in a bone scan

As I heard my friend confide on our phone call

Considering what possible treatment options.

Recurrence and progression are dreadful words

We hope to put off for another day

Wanting to delay the inevitable awaiting all of us

Making each moment of each day precious.

This turn of events puts my friend in a tight spot

Forced to make a choice between bad and worse

Deciding if and when to begin again what was awful

Or if there’s any possible alternative.

Looking into the future is like trying to spot someone

In the distance in a crowd of people

Coming towards you calling your name

Someone who you know you know.

Spot the dog in my first grade reader cannot outrun import

No matter how many meanings a word takes on

No shifting usage can change the material fact

Those spreading bone spots are big trouble.

All of this will disappear into the chasm of geologic time

Including both of us with our lives lived together and apart

We who worry with good reason about what comes next

We can take comfort in our shared humanity.

Feeder Watch November 10, 2018