Issa's cherry blossoms

"Beneath cherry blossoms, there are no utter strangers." Issa's words and they are as good a way to start as finish. Books, poetry and life ... a sort of commonplace book will be what happens here, though perhaps not.

Yesterday, during a hike through Beechwood Farms, Laurie and I encountered some deer, a bluejay and some wild turkeys. Quite unusual since all the times we've been there before we've heard a few birds but little else. Laurie spotted the deer off the path and we stopped. They watched us and we watched them and neither of us was frightened away. Quite unusual and wonderful. The wild turkeys were skittish, backing slowly away. One presented its full wing span and we moved on and let them be. The bluejay was rather large and defiant, flying down from a tree and standing in the middle of the path daring us to go on. A snapped twig chased it off but for a few moments it seemed to be a showdown with some other possible results.

Currently reading the poetry of Jack Gilbert and a book on poetry by Kenneth Koch.