Wolf Moon

A big walk. Not because of the length or the time, but because of what came to me...

It started with watching the cormorants fly to the roosts on the opposite shore. And hearing and seeing the other birds finding their places. Then the swans, blue in the half light.

I walked on and heard a moorhen calling. I thought that was strange and went to explore. Along a path I don't usually take.

WOW!!!

A hare exploded from almost under my feet. I put my hand in its form and the grass on this frosty afternoon was as warm as toast. I was sorry he had to move.

The moorhen was fine. But I stood, listening to goldcrests. Watching. Enchanted. A squirrel was climbing a tree right in front of me, saw me, and fled. a second did the same. A red kite wheeled above, catching the red light of the lowering sun. A heron flew right over, quite low, huge. A muntjac stood next to me until she sensed something was off and left. Sounds. Over there. I waited. Badgers? The sounds continued but I saw nothing. Then, more sounds, over in the other direction. Loud, like a red deer snorting. More sounds. large animals. But there are no large animals.

The veil was slipping.

The absent ones.

Aurochs. Elk.

And then the Wolf Moon and the fire in the sunset sky.