Mr. Mischief Mr. Mischief, where have you been? Have your deeds been full of sin? Give you a look that says, “Not me!” Those beady eyes belie … “We’ll see!” Deep within your genetic soul Lies a phenotype that’s droll You may think that mask you wear Covers all the wrong you dare Fooled not we by your winsome pose For Mr. Mischief … you’ve been exposed. ~ Poem and Raccoon capture, Mr. Mischief © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Tiger’s Eye An eye that burns and steals the breath So lights the way to certain death It brings a fire to the night A cause to tremble deep in fright The Tiger’s eye is such a blaze Made by the hand of Holy Praise. ~ Poem and Bengal Tiger capture, The Tiger’s Eye © Jerry L. Ferrara. Kanha, India
Zeroed In Concentrating on the fish below, the Bald Eagle zeroed in on its target. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, Zeroed In © Jerry L. Ferrara
Fortress of Ice Late light on a glacial face … Fortress of Ice. ~ 6:25PM. 9/7/22. 79° 42′ 79.962″ N by 21° 52′ 39.39″ E, Norway © Jerry L. Ferrara
Morning Beauty As the misty fog cleared and the sun’s rays spread across the land, we came upon this morning beauty. ~ Anecdote and Morning Beauty capture © Jerry L. Ferrara
Walking On Water As the Arctic days passed, the ambient temperature plummeted and the water began to congeal. At times there was flexure to the liquid’s surface and it became a kind of rubbery platform. Some of the younger Polar Bears were able to successfully maneuver across the plastic medium without punching through. At times they appeared to be walking on water. ~ Anecdote and Polar Bear capture, Walking On Water © Jerry L. Ferrara
We’re Almost There It’s November 21st. We’re almost there. ~ Wild Turkey capture, We’re Almost There © Jerry L. Ferrara
Below A Silent Crescent Moon The icy morning temperature loitered near twenty degrees Fahrenheit as soft calls and gentle murmurings from the Snow Geese drifted languidly across the marsh. Waiting patiently to depart their evening roost, the geese idly “talked” … and then came their cue. Light, from the eastern horizon, brightened as our nearest star began to paint the pre-dawn sky. A pregnant pause in “goose speak” stilled the air waves. The silence, however, was short-lived. What ensued was a spectacular tumult as a storm of wings-by-the-thousands thrashed the air amidst the keyed up cries of the departing geese. As rafts of boisterous birds blew up from the wetland, they passed below a silent crescent moon. ~ Anecdote and Light Geese capture, Below A Silent Crescent Moon © Jerry L. Ferrara
Up On Snowy Ridge Up on Snowy Ridge, the wind is full of bite. Most creatures do not stir, so stay they out of sight. And well for them they do, amongst the stormy howl. For in the blustery murk, a presence there may prowl. It moves with stealth and purpose, but is it really there… a ghostly apparition, or just a false affair? Up on Snowy Ridge, the tempest meets demise. From the womb of Hell, a bold form does arise. Its aura full of skookum, though mankind finds great flaw. Yet wild things in wild places, live by sacred law. Up on Snowy Ridge, the untamed Gray Wolf waits. It stands for all that’s wild and free, will this remain its fate? …will wilderness abate? ~ Poem and Gray Wolf capture, Up On Snowy Ridge © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl Fish I the shoals of riparian streams deep in the Stygian night. My secret life does make me seem a creature kept from sight. The Ainu thought I brought good luck, we shared a life complete. But human numbers grew so much my kind’s now quite deplete. When I arrive to dine each night along a snowy shore, I search the dark without much light to catch my meal and more. Talons to the pool I go, my wings are held up high. It’s how I catch my supper, though, my pinions must stay dry. I eat the fish, I cannot wait, it’s back to work I go. To catch a meal that’s for my mate. She waits for me to show …and off to feed my waiting partner, silently I go. The Blakiston’s Fish Owl is highly endangered and one of the rarest birds on the planet. It also belongs with the Eagle Owl faction, the largest of owl species. It is found only in restricted areas of Russia, China and Japan. ~ Poem, anecdote and Blakiston’s Fish Owl image © Jerry L. Ferrara