A Chance

 

Today I found a severed stem

of milkweed, with each pod ajar –

so, like a wand, I waved it high

to help the tufted seeds fly far.

And many sailed into the sky,

but others tangled in small trees,

and so I went to pluck them there

and fling them out onto the breeze.

Were I a seed snagged on a bough,

I'd want someone to set me free,

and have a chance to reach the earth

to thrive where I am meant to be.

November 2020

(from the book Longing For The Light by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

 

New Update on Venus

Today, November 16th, I contacted the shelter that took in the little fox, Venus, for another update.  Here is what I received:

Hi Doris!!!

Venus is doing fine, her skin and fur are a lot better, she can now stand on her back legs and she is starting to walk ... one of her back legs is worse than the other, so it is going to take time but I am pretty sure that she is going to recover at least 75%.  Here is a picture of her beautiful face!

Marie-Claude 

November 16th

Compare this to how she looked over the last few months!

July 11th

 (this may be a sibling but they were all in the same terrible condition)

September 30th

 (just arriving at the shelter)

October 16th

Further update of December 18, 2023:

Hello Doris!!

Venus is doing so great!!!!  She is not anymore in the care place; she is now in the "refuge" where she is walking and she started to run!!!!  Her fur is beautiful!!! She does not want me to touch her anymore which means she is going to be able to get back to the wild in the Spring!!!

Marie-Claude

Transformation

A garden, abandoned and wild –

liberated from man's designs –

basks in each summer day.

Then soon arrives November's chill –

and bitter winds and evening frost

mean winter's on the way.

The goldenrod – its treasure spent

in wild and wanton revelries –

retires in shades of buff.

The aster drops its purple fringe –

its yellow center detonates

into a soft, beige puff.

The milkweed's blushing, perfumed blooms

give way to tasseled seeds that sail

above a pale tableau.

Autumnal hues once warm and strong,

fade slowly from the cooling scene,

soon to be blanched by snow.

November 2020

(from the book Longing For The Light by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter