Six Mile Cypress Slough January 13, 2021

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what happens next

What happens next in general is predictable

The fascists are emboldened by how easy it was

Assaulting and occupying the Capitol building 

Sending the politicians scurrying away in fear

The police are pushovers with kid gloves 

When it comes to confronting white supremacy 

Infiltrated from top to bottom by the fascists 

Letting almost all of them depart to go home exultant

The live stream fundraising brought in lots of money 

And so many new recruits eager for action

Even the FBI no friend of ours is warning 

Expect armed protests in all 50 state capitals.

And nothing is being done in response 

To show mass opposition to these thugs

As the Democrats ask everyone to sit passively 

Saying please don't go to the inauguration 

It is the aroused people mobilized in the streets 

Who lead the way to win gains not the politicians 

Including the Democrats who watch and do little 

No help unless they are pushed from below

The fascists will be on the attack in the days ahead

Going after the same target groups the Nazis did

People of color and people with disabilities 

Socialists, union activists, Jews, and LGBTQ

Do not sit back trapped in a false choice 

Not wanting to support the lame Democrats 

When there's a slogan we can all get behind 

We Say No! To Fascism!

Sanibel Ding Darling NWR January 11, 2021

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in a quiet place

The rumble and roar and loud beeping noise

Traffic and planes and machinery grinding 

If that was all I could hear when walking outside 

My ears would wish to be in a quiet place 

To find somewhere to enjoy listening closely 

Away from human commerce and commotion 

Able to hear the subtle sounds in nature 

Especially the birds calling and their sweet songs

This is where I find my everyday happiness 

Having learned to identify the individual species 

Excited when hearing an unfamiliar phrase 

Getting a glimpse and discovering the bird

All this was always there unknown to me

Until I became interested in the particular details 

Seen only if you look and pay attention 

Heard only if you recognize the patterns 

My hearing range somewhat limits what I can hear 

As is also true for my partner in the field 

But our gaps complement for more complete coverage 

Alerting each other to certain high and low notes

There are songs heard only in breeding season

That must be remembered again each year

And songs that change by the time of day

Between morning foraging and evening roost

There's so much information that could be shared

But words cannot convey the delightful experience 

Being in the presence of a thrush or veery or a meadowlark 

Or any of the songs and the sight of feathered beauty