Monday, January 26, 2009

TWO CROWS

Two crows sit on a sycamore limb amid a snowstorm. Which sounds like the start of an off-color joke, something a comic might have told in one of those little Catskills clubs back in the old days. A joke that had to be cleaned up when television came around and the audience became uncountable families watching a flickering box in their living rooms and parlors. Two crows sit on a sycamore limb amid a snowstorm. The river broods along below them, inscrutable, dark and gray as old pewter. The sky overhead is a lighter gray, a tone midways between water and snow. White, black, a couple of grays. A scene you could render perfectly in pencil. Two crows sit on a sycamore limb amid a snowstorm. Side-by-side, hunched against the wind and cold, old friends discussing the weather, or some devilment they intend for later in the day. I'm restless by the fireside, watching river and snow, envious because those companionable birds have the better seat.

6 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

But not as warm as where you are sitting I'll be bound. Lovely post again.

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

More in the thick of things, however; more real, if not quite so comfortable.

Again, thank you.

Jenn Jilks said...

Terrific post.
You have inspired me.

My favourite creature: the blue heron, grabbed me in your header.

Do you find that anyone finds your header photo too large? I am thinking of changing mine. Up here in Central Ontario a lot of friends still have dial-up. VERY slow!!!

Grizz………… said...

Jenn…

Thank you…though I'm not sure my poetry deserves such praise. Still, I welcome your kind words.

Re. the size of my header pix, nope, never had a complaint. It might prove slow on dial-up, but then so would all the rest of the page photos. I want to use whatever I can to create a readable, enjoyable blog—for everyone who takes time from their busy day to stop by and visit. I think that means using as much technology as you're comfortable with and your layout/design skills allow. This crow poem, for example, wouldn't be half as good (to whatever degree the word "good" can be applied here) without the supporting photo—and my poetry probably needs all the help it can get!

Dial-up is slow, maddening, and often unworkable when you're trying to load graphic-heavy pages. It's barely good for e-mail. But a nice header shot (I'll probably switch this one around from time to time) can often induce a new visitor to stay long enough to take a deeper look at the bog—at which point either you've got what they want and like, or you haven't. A fair evaluation.

Hey, it worked on you…right?

Ketary said...

when I was a child I'd make fotos of animals and bugs... your fotos remind me my childhood... thank u for your comment in my blog! it's very important to me! Thank U!!!

Grizz………… said...

Ketary…

Thank you! I sincerely appreciate your comments.

And your mosaic work is really great.