Tiny Ripples

The water tumbled down-stream, meandering along over stones and plant life free falling into Light Point Pond creating an infinite array of tiny symmetric ripples radiating outward across to the other side.

One tiny ripple paused and looked back as it rolled over the back of a large flat stone. “Hello, I’m a tiny ripple.” The stone replied, “Yes, I know you are a tiny ripple. And great will be your journey, far and wide even farther than you can begin to imagine. It will take but a moment’s breathe this journey of yours and you will do many great things for you carry LOVE, the essence of life wherever you travel. Go along now little one.”

The ripple murmured along and came upon a large green frog. “Hello green frog, I’m a tiny ripple.” The frog replied, “Yes, I know and I am grateful to know you. You deliver cool splashes of water across my back while I bask in the hot summer’s sun. Thank you, I love you.”

The tiny ripple flowed along and came upon a large water snake lazing in the cool swamp grasses. “Hello snake, I’m a tiny ripple.” The snake replied, “yes and you bring bugs and insects along with you that I might feast on their delicacy. Thank you, I love you.”

The tiny ripple kept on its journey and soon came upon a host of water lilies laughing and giggling in the summer breeze. “Hello lilies, I’m a tiny ripple.” The lilies giggled some more and said, “yes, we know. You tickle our feet and tussle our reeds and bend us over that we might gather fresh water in our mouths. Thank you, we love you.”

Soon the tiny ripple came to the edge of the pond and a great water fall. It began to shake and tremble and was frightened. The tiny rippled spoke to the waterfall, “hello waterfall, I’m a tiny ripple and I am afraid to fall.” The waterfall smiled and gently took the tiny ripple in its hands and said, “There is nothing to be afraid of. You are always surrounded by an infinite array of other ripples just like you. And they love you very much; you are always safe wherever you are. Your journey is only just beginning, for you have much love to carry out over many seas and oceans far and wide. And you shall travel lightly and quickly and bring the message of love to all you meet along the way. Remember you are an endless ripple in an endless sea soon to become a great wave carrying LOVE, life’s essence to all that you touch. Know you are never alone and always loved tiny ripple, for it is so.”

The waterfall then placed the tiny ripple down at the bottom of the falls and the ripple flowed on down the stream out to the sea where it would travel and become a great wave.

Tamarack Tears

October brought a light coverlet of snow early that first year at Light Point Pond. I was circling the perimeter discovering new found territories and learning the sights and sounds of the encompassing landscape. As I came upon a small grove of Tamarack trees I was stopped in my tracks by the striking sight of the shedding trees. Dropping their needles in a haste and a frenzy much like a small child rushing home already late for his Sunday dinner.

Shedding their prior summer’s coat of growth the air was so full of tiny golden brown needles it choked out any deeper view of the trees above and behind. They carpeted the ground and recent snowfall, building their own fortress and blanket of warmth as if trying to protect their trunks and roots from the soon to come deep winter frosts.

It appeared as if they were crying silent tears. Not so much tears of pain or discomfort. More a joyful falling, letting go. Accepting as a part of the cycle of nature to shed and release this year’s lessons of growth and prepare for winters rest only to grow and shed new lessons yet again next year.

I never came upon this particular sight again the bold contrast of white and gold. Snows either came too late or didn’t stay around long enough to be blanketed by the tiny tears. This morning as I circled the perimeter I was once again greeted by the shedding trees. Dropping their few remaining needles desperately falling ahead of the soon to come snowfalls. Falling to the ground louder than snowfall but quieter than raindrops laying their annual blanket, an array of golden, brown, and yellow needles, they will always remind of Tamarack tears.

Brunch:

Chomp, crunch, swallow; chomp, crunch, swallow; chomp, crunch, swallow, Plew-spit out a wing tip! Chomp, crunch, swallow; chomp, crunch, swallow; plew-spit out another wing tip. Chomp, crunch, swallow; chomp, crunch, swallow and one more swallow.

It was a sunny hot July day. The temperature was already rising to 95 degrees and it was only 11:00A.M. The humidity beginning to increase and thicken the air making breathing seem difficult. I was doing stone work on the end of the overflow stream that feeds Light Point Pond when I stopped to take a short break. Stomping the shovel into the ground I paused. Gazing over the pond I thought I need a drink of water. Just as I was about to move towards the wheelbarrow to get a drink a Comet Darner flew by and landed on the top of the shovel handle. Startled and a bit stunned I looked at it in awe and disbelief. In an instant I thought, “I’ve got to get the camera and take a picture of this, no one will ever believe me.” But I also knew any movement or sound louder than breathing would surely scare this magnificent creature away and dissolve this miraculous engagement instantly and permanently. I froze in my stance and watched from three feet away in silence and amazement.

Perched on top of the shovel handle, his personal table top, the darner began devouring a deer fly. Head first! The fly while being slightly smaller than the two-three inch darner was still more than a mouthful so to say! I wonder how he caught it? In flight by surprise no doubt. And does he know there is no nutrition in the wings? Spitting them out as if to say I don’t need the roughage? Consuming only the body cavity, delicately and matter-of-factly with a chomp, a crunch and a swallow. And then, all gone!