I know …
the tide is receding, when I find lines drawn between sand and sea.
they chronicle time
or memoralise life, between the lines.
The sea may leave a sprig of foliage. An oasis, when you least expect it.
Sand from far away places.
Tiny shells, from who knows where.
I catch a glimpse, a fleeting glimpse, of sand in the making.
And, as the tide leaves, I become more conversant with the language of the sea.
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
Unfurl!
I insist!
Be free!
dawnbird
It is early morning. There is no one in the Lair. Well, maybe not!
Breathe in. Breathe out. My senses now acute.
There is someone having breakfast above me. I move my lens away from the remnants cast aside carelessly.
On the other side, the rhythmic thump on dry leaves tells me there’s a grey kangaroo in there. Somewhere.
I close my eyes. I hear the sea in the Marri tree tops. This, in deep Wheatbelt country.
The tops are crowned with flowers, with some blossoms hanging low, like fruit of the vine.
And, that’s when I saw her. She looked bewildered at my presence.
But not as bewildered as me, to find a shiny bauble in this bush country.
Until next time,
As always,
a dawn bird
At sunset, I parked my car and walked towards the ocean. A gust of wind lifted the sail.
Breathtaking!
He steadied himself, then walked down the stairs. His dreadlocks streaming behind him, like kelp.
The wind was strong. It was what he wanted. Encased, his muscles quivered with anticipation.
He faced the ocean. This, Poseidon.
Without a backward glance, he let the waves take him away.
I stood alone. The wind wailed with me.
In his element, no longer of land, he became a creature of the sea.
Until next time,
As always,
a dawn bird
Over the years I’ve managed to develop my own work-life balance. I’ve reached a stage of contentment in what I do and how I live. My children say, they have never heard me complain about working. I don’t believe I’ve ever complained to anyone else. Why would I? Every work trip is an adventure. Yet, some people feel the need to “sympathize” with me.
You see, my camera has opened a new world where I always find joy in the old and new. If it’s raining, I look for rainbows. When it is overcast with storm clouds, I know sunrise/sunset is going to be magnificent. In rain, I find diamonds. It’s a new twist to the old saying, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Some memorable moments are more vivid than others, like those spent with red finches in Kununurra, in the far north of Western Australia. These are my observations.
Red finches seem to be listening to music all the time. They hop and skip and bop their way on the ground. In the air, they dive dance.
They are almost always in a flock or at least a pair or two. I’ve watched them for hours and have never observed conflict. They seem to know, there is plenty of food for all.
They go about their life, without a backward glance at raptors. They live mindfully, in the here and now.
They are curious about the new.
Stop long enough to look at the world around them.
They are relaxed, and focused, when they observe.
And, yes, these energetic, beautiful little birds do take time to rest.
Red finches are joyful creatures. Their values are uncomplicated. Food. Freedom. Community.
Flanked by the major highway and the banks of the beautiful Lily Creek Lagoon, these red finches live an idyllic life, as it was intended.
I do, too.
Until next time
As always,
a dawn bird
A Shared Space 
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