Keel Lions

by john clare

When shoals are swollen from the downward flow
of Okeefenokee storms
With rapidly rising rapids sanding shores smoothly worn
Polishing to razor edge the limestone knives unsheathed underneath
Slitting open spilling upon the shores gear scattered asunder
While lurking upon higher ground in palmetto thickets
long thin lines
snaking through the pine and sweet gum reptilian-like
Etching a tail furrow down only to disappear at the
edge of tannic and sand
What creature is this that surfaces from a calm flowing
To emerge again upon the foamy down current side?
The old timers who have dwelt long beside the roaring
Call them Keel Lions
akin to the Ant Lions who make their inverted pyramid traps
along the path
Capsizing the unsuspecting creatures that stray into their lair
To surface far beyond the shoals as discarded limbs
remnants of broken watercraft
That dared take the watery path to avoid the
deadly Keel Lions.

Swine Squeal

by john clare

Drowned by the Shoals constant churning
The high pitch squealing of the swine
Deliverance a silently horrendous hope
As below rocked the empty boat
Bobby and the boys not seen since Friday
Sheriff Bullard assuring us its only a drunken spree
That soon they will emerge from the
swollen Suwannee downstream.

Turn

by john clare

And as the Sun arises toward the East
We turn our faces toward the West
For how can we face such sacrifice
We the deserving of the Tumi knife
And as the water and blood merge
Beams of radiant light like words are heard
And we turn to the East
Bow our knee and see.

Easter Sunrise

Rushed down to Watertown Lake to view the sun coming over the horizon. The dark clouds above the sun resembled to me Christ on the cross with a bent down head and outstretched arms.

On Mount Carrie

 

So Sorry

 

Nathaniel
Please forgive Pappa
that pappa
wasn't there
when you woke
(Julia told me you went all through the house and yard calling for me)
I knew
Nathaniel
when I laid you down
for that nap
that it would be the
last time
ole Pappa would hold
you
that you would move out
to Biloxi
and if I ever saw you again
the memory of
Pappa in your
little two year old mind
would be all but gone
that with each week apart
from you
You would tire of calling
for Pappa
and soon not call at all.
I cannot tell how how it hurt
to lay you down on that pallet
It will always  hurt
I will never get over
the fact your mother and father
caused this separation
 

To your death we will part

We spotted three large alligators on the upper Suwannee today. These two were above Bell Springs. A bit further up just below Big Shoals another basked upon the late afternoon Hamilton County bank.

Ascension of the dogwood petals

After returning from Big Shoals with Jordon, I made the evening walk to the end of Tevis for another attempt at the Dogwoods. I have the most difficult time focusing the Canon S100, wishing it had the control that a SLR does in focus. Returning, I spoke with my neighbor, offering a play tool set to Nathaniel. I explained they had left for eight months. I said, if you can find another who would get use from it, that would be better. Beside, I would be sad seeing it.
Nathaniel and I would make this walk or ride in the wagon up to these dogwood trees. He liked to run under the pines and gather up the cones. I am not dealing too well with this silent separation.
Pray for me.

Farewell Nathaniel

The last photograph of Nathaniel. I went over to Julia's on Sunday to confront Amber about her long silence. After finally getting in, I learned that Nathaniel had been at her mother's all along since last week, that Amber never returned from Texas, but following Landon to Biloxi. I was beside myself, but composed. I spent several hours with Nathaniel at Julia's, as Amber had left strict instructions not to let him out of her sight, like we would be of harm to him!
I was able to hold him and he fell asleep in my arms. I gently laid him down and left. I tried on Monday to plead with Julia that Mamma, Melanie and Jordon needed to see him. She was too afraid of Amber. She never called me back. She too has been brainwashed by Amber, as has Landon our son.
Amber has managed to take from Landon everyone in his family, his friends, leaving only her and Nathaniel in this fatal like attraction she has for him.
She most of all needs prayer. Landon needs prayer that he will see the importance of family and overcome her attempts to ruin his family life.

Under Grace

Went by old Westside Baptist today to read the meter. Walked up under the porch to view the nice concrete etching work that was done several years ago. It was voted to sell this church on US90 and build a new church on property west on Turner Road down from Harvey's.
Tom Bart and I were the only two men present who voted against the move. And as it turned out, it would have been best had the other men followed our leading. For what was once a unified group at Westside, is now a split group, Christ's Fellowship and Grace Life Church.
Most unfortunate.

Thomas Tobacco Barn

How did I derive at this? First in Picassa(poor mans free photoshop), I took the color photograph taken today and enhanced the color in saturation. Second, I turned it into infrared and slide the focus to the right to bring some color back, just a touch. I then chose the HDR button, again sliding the amount back to the right to decrease the affect. I then ligthened the overall scene in Highlight. It gave it more of a graphic affect, less a photograph.

March

by john clare
I do not like this third month
that comes with such stern
command to March!
March whether you are
ready or not
March to Orange Hill
March to Biloxi
March right out of our lives
And who dares disobey
The strongman's command?
And so we March
In rank and file
abreast around the
parade ground
Until late into the night
when all have gone
and all is silent
And we ease up for but
a rest
Only to hear from the
darkness
the strongman command
March!
March!
MARCH!