Monday, April 26, 2010

Smoky Mountain Rain

Smoky Mountain rain, fresh and clean, driven through the cracks and crevices
of the cold crystalline aquifers in the deepest dark far below our warm, sunny world.
This precious resource filled up the gargantuan canyons of Earth’s oceans eons ago;
long before we humans strutted the stage of creation.
It was and is the source of all life, a gift from the Unknowable.

Smoky Mountain rain—life-giving moisture;
borne on racing continental winds from two great oceans.
One warm and tropical, the other perilously cold, far to the setting sun;
both contributing the life-giving elixir;
falls on some of the oldest mountains in existence.

Smoky Mountain rain, sometimes falling gently with a mother’s touch on the trees and plants. Other times, pounding the earth in sheets, washing away needed soil;
surrounded by jagged shards of lightening,
followed by the booming of ear-splitting thunder;
seemingly mad like two human’s passionate embrace.

Smoky Mountain rain, driven, sinks into the earth
through the humus and topsoil, trickling into the depths.
A joining of two elementals, water and earth;
bursting forth in springs, streams and rivers,
giving life to everything it touches.

Smoky Mountain rain, nobody owns it; although some might think so.
All share in its benefits.
All suffer from its absence.
No one owns the Smoky Mountain rain.
Smoky Mountain rain—the source of all life.


Chuck Connors, March 26, 2010

What If?

‘Big men’ come and swoop down upon us
like hawks diving down on cowed, helpless mice.

They come, whether we want them to or not,
like bad weather or other natural disasters.

What if ‘big men’ didn’t come,
staying away and left us free and unmolested?

What if, when ‘big men’ came, swooping down upon us;
expecting to take all they want (and more);

one mouse turned around, holding and aiming a rifle
and shot the hawk out of the sky?

What if?


Chuck Connors, April 24, 2010

Sweet Surprise

A riot, an explosion, a conflagration of colors;
Spread across the land according to the laws of the Creator.

Brilliant yellows, dark forest greens, gentle pinks, and dazzling whites;
A collage of colors burst forth from the earth.

Every spring, life comes springing up like a colorful jack-in-the-box
With a big stupid grin, silly hat, and surprising you when you least expect it.

Silly, ignorant humans; always being surprised by spring springing
like we’d never seen such a sight before.

Yet if I was never surprised, and maybe even a little bored with the prospect
of the rejuvenation of life every year; would life be worth the living?

Count me among the silly and stupid for if I were to live for a thousand more
years through such beginnings I’d always be amazed at nature’s sudden, sweet surprise.


Chuck Connors, April 11, 2010

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Vigilant Gray Cat

Tree swallows, Blue birds, and little Finches hop around;
A couple of Starlings fighting at a feeder.
While under them, hiding, hungry in the grass;
A vigilant gray cat waits for his chance.


Chuck Connors, April 3, 2010