Invasion

finsf

Suddenly they began dropping from the afternoon sky by the millions: vast hordes of tiny invading aliens, blocking out the sun and reducing visibility to near-zero with their little white parachutes. We all ran into the house and watched from the windows, as the siege continued into the night with no sign of letting up.

We thought we were doomed.

But then, a few hours before dawn, a fierce October wind kicked up out of nowhere, and the entire alien army was blasted high into the turbulent sky, completely out of control. After thrashing about violently at the mercy of the powerful gusts, the alien army was soon annihilated.

In the morning, we awoke to nearly a foot of parachutes.

finsg

(Photos by me, rev. from 10/17)

haiku 94

finsto

the deepest secrets

of the cosmos are written

in every stone

I found this stone on one of my constitutionals into the Superior National Forest. It almost seems as though it has a message encoded in its structure, and for all I know, it might.

–Photo by me

The Shadow Knows

finshad

My shadow grows anxious.

I usually don’t give his opinion much weight, but I’m deep in bear country, and the sun is already dipping behind the trees. He keeps getting ahead of me, trying to see what’s around the next bend in the hiking trail. I really can’t blame him for getting bent out of shape though, as it is late fall, when bear are ravenous.

If the sun gets any lower, he’ll probably disappear, being the coward that he is, and I doubt if I’ll see him again until morning.

–photo by me

favorable wind

finyard

the season had ended

the leaves had descended

and raking was planned

for the day

i got up before dawn

and was out on the lawn

when a favorable wind

came my way

for it blew the leaves high

in the blustery sky

and i never did rake

all the day

and i think it has been

a most favorable wind

but my neighbors don’t

see it that way

–photo by me

(orig. 11/18)

Dear God

finaa

Dear God,

It’s me.

I’d like to thank you for all the blessings bestowed on me again today–but that’s what I’m here to talk to you about.

You see, I’m what could be called an old, white, privileged male, and I already have too much of everything. Don’t get me wrong, all these blessings are great, but I’m finding it hard to keep thanking you for them when so many are suffering with so little.

I was wondering if maybe you could…ah…I don’t know…spread them out a little more? Even things out a bit?

It’s difficult to really enjoy all these great blessings when thousands of little children starve to death every day.

Amen

finvul

–Photo by Kevin Carter (who committed suicide shortly after)