A REASON FOR THE SEASON
I saw the Cooper’s hawk this morning. She landed on the chimney pot, probably looking for my miniature hen, Grayson. Four years ago she was a starving fledgling who mantled over while I fed her cold chicken. She’s back this holiday, my spirits lifting. A good Christmas present.
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In the middle of the commercialization of Christmas, Nature closes the gap. I have noticed squirrels with pecans in mouths leaping the trees, hawks hunting low over now-bare woods, unknown song birds sitting on fences, heard the migration of Sandhill cranes as they honk in formation. You hear their cacophony well before they appear. Their chiding cries float down to our upturned faces.
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There is brightness to the holly, washed by our late autumn rains and the orange of the nandina berries has turned crimson. Smell of wood smoke in the air and the crispness of mornings means the earth is going to sleep.
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We humans should reclaim our past and fecal plugs and join the slumber party of our brother bears. Jingle Bells will fade and our tension with it. Looking towards deep winter when the Earth is again silent will restore our balance and calm nerves with a blanket of Peace.
–
Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted, 2008-2014
Tags: A Reason for the Season, Coopers Hawk, Holidays, Nature, Peace, Winter
Lady Nyo's Weblog 
December 13, 2014 at 3:24 pm
Beautiful post and images. Happy holidays to you Jane, sending you love and hugs and warmth and support. Thinking about your red shoes. love CS
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December 13, 2014 at 3:36 pm
Good Morning to you, CS! And Happy Holidays.
I am not religious, and it is funny but my Mormon stepson will be here for 8 days before Xmas. This will be a challenge, but so it goes. His choice, not mine. LOL!
Sending love and hugs and warmth, and much support back to you!
Those red shoes are staying in the closet. LOL!
Love, Jane
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December 16, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Hi Jane,
Winter and its slumber are now comforts to me because of your writing. What a wonderful gift – the hawk’s return.
Is this the same Cooper’s hawk of the poem from Pitcher of Moon?
Love, TR
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December 16, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Hi TR! Cooper’s Hawk? Nah, another one. LOL!
The Cooper’s Hawk in the “Reason for the Season” actually appeared in our back yard and mantled over (walked) to our back porch where we were sitting. That was very unusual hawk behavior; She obviously was very young and starving. Just fledged. We fed her chicken and sausage and she came back! I see her infrequently above our house in the sky, they have a very distinctive tail formation and they are much smaller than Red tails, etc.
The “Ode to a Cooper’s Hawk” in Pitcher of Moon, was written because a pushy Bahai got me pissed. LOL! People that don’t respect other’s religious or non-religious beliefs make me …well, she isn’t a friend anymore, but a pretty good poem came from that argument. LOL! Actually, she turned out to be rather ‘unbalanced’ and also somewhat a narcissist. I have since learned to avoid people like her…and any interest I had in Baha’i faith…well, that went out the window. I don’t want to be around people like her.
That is a great compliment to me and the writing, TR. All poets hope to affect a little bit of the thinking of readers….to expand their words in the minds and hearts of others. Thank you!
And thank you for reading and your comment. And since I know that you are an artist, take the peace and quiet of this coming
Winter to create!
Love, Jane
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