I found this cute little guy today on the side of my house when I was rolling up my water hose. He is a common tree frog found in this area and may other parts of the Eastern United States. They are usually more active at night. I love all his little suction cups on his feet. Keeps him hanging on!
iPhone Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Title taken from the movie Casa Blanca – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqhNZJKMFLc
The story of George the old hunter continues … trapped in a blizzard… while hunting in the mountains….
The cave extended back about eight feet, with a ceiling only around four feet high. It was just wide enough so that George could comfortably turn around and stretch out in. Now that he had stopped moving the chill began to set in on him. He was glad for his hooded hunting jacket that offered some comfort, but not enough to feel warm. The evaporating sweat from his climb down the mountain only served to chill him even more.
Darkness was setting in as the snow continued to fall gently creating a wonderful world of white. George knew he must work quickly to get settled for the long night ahead. He had several matches, but they would not provide any lasting light. He took out his last granola bar and ate only half of it, although his stomach was empty and growling. He did the same with his last bottle of water. He knew he would need the rest in the morning for his journey back to his truck in the valley below.
A cold chill was coming through his jeans. George decided to pile the dry leaves in the cave over his legs to help insulate them just a little. Exhausted from his climb down the mountain, so he propped his 30-30 against the back of the cave and tried to get as comfortable as possible. It wasn’t long untill he drifted off to sleep.
*****
As the winter storm outside continued, George slept fitfully. His dreams came and went, some leaving him very unsettled. Just as he drifted off once more, he heard a frightful scream in the distance beyond the hollow. Immediately he recognized that sound as a mountain lion. They roamed these mountains and were usually illusive of people. Unless cornered, they kept their distance.
Thoughts raced through George’s mind. The sound was not far away; and from what George could tell, it was moving closer. He wondered if the mountain lion was also looking for his cave to find shelter from the storm. He sat up, took the safety off his rifle and laid his 30-30 across his lap.
He could not see much in the dark, although the snow offered a shadow of light at the mouth of the cave. Chills of a different kind ran up and down George’s spine, as the guttural sounds of the mountain lion came closer and closer to the mouth of the cave. George knew he had no choice, so propping his elbows on his knees he brought the 30-30 to his shoulder and waited.
*****
George could now hear the heavy breathing of the creature outside his cave. He checked to make sure his gun was ready. The cat stopped just beyond the entrance. Was she picking up George’s scent from inside the cave? He could hear her creeping forward on the snow covered ground.
George knew this was it. With his finger on the trigger he kept his eyes focused on the dim light at cave opening! The mountain lion’s head obscured the light at the cave entrance. She gave a loud snarl when she saw George in her den. George held his breath and squeezed the trigger. There was a deafening boom from the rifle!
George woke with a start in a cold sweat! It seemed so real. He checked, and his 30-30 was still standing propped against the cave wall. As he looked towards the entrance George could see all was quiet as the snow gently fell all around.
For the beginning of the story scroll down through the blog page to the previous posts on The Climb or click below:
For a free pdf. file copy of the whole story, email me at: dwru27@aol.com
With all that is going on in the world, it may seem like we are living on a rocky mountainside waiting to slide. But above it all our spirits can rise and soar if we stop and take time to look at the bigger picture. There is more to life that just sitting and waiting for the worst. Enjoy every moment you have with family and friends. Do your best to make the world a better place. An act of kindness is never too small, and a grateful spirit will carry you on eagles wings!
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Posted for Open Link night at d’Verse Poets Pub
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
On Tuesday we did prosery at d’Verse Poets Pub. We had to write a 144 prose piece using the word Cloud along with a line from a poem. I wrote this short story. Several bloggers mentioned they wanted the story to continue, so I am attempting to carry on… This is the first segment followed by three new segments.
The Climb
Dwight L. Roth
The old hunter slowly made his way up the rocky mountain side. He used his 30-30 more as a cane than a gun. It was a beautiful winter day with a cool brisk wind blowing up the hollow. He wrapped his coat tightly around his shoulders as he stopped to rest.
George enjoyed hunting for the past forty years. As he unwrapped a Hershey bar, he thought about his younger days and the thrill of getting his first deer on opening day. Now the thrill was just being able to make it to the high top. The view there was spectacular.
At the top of the ridge, he found trees bent from the wind. The clouds were different today. George wasn’t sure, “But these clouds are clearly foreign, such an exotic clutter against the blue cloth of the sky” Distant snow clouds worried him.
***
He knew how fast the weather could change in early winter. George had hiked through the mountain laurel, almost to the high-top, the rise of rocks and scrub bushes that rose sharply before dropping down the backside of the mountain.
In the West he saw clouds were moving in more rapidly than he anticipated. He knew he must head back or he would be caught in a blizzard. In his younger days George could have easily stepped it off back toward the ravine in short order. But, his body would not cooperate like it once did. So, he slowly made his way through the laurel as best he could.
Reaching the head of the hollow, he looked out across the mountains and realized there was no way to make it down before the snow closed in on him. He had to find shelter and find it quickly!
*****
It started as sleet and freezing rain, quickly turning into heavy snow. He remembered stories of hunters who got trapped in blizzards and did not make it home alive. George was determined that would not be his fate.
Having hunted the mountain many times, George remembered a large outcropping of rock on the other side of the hollow about half way down. If he could make it that far, a shallow cave at the base would provide shelter from the wind and snow.
Although going down was easier than coming up, one had to still be careful not to slip and fall, or step in between two rocks and sprain an ankle, or God forbid, break a leg. Carefully George made his way through the falling snow. In the distance he could see the large rocks, black against the white blanket of snow.
*****
As George reached the overhanging rocks, he could see his short breaths projecting like tiny steam clouds from a locomotive. He also felt an unusual tingling in his shoulder that radiated down his left arm. It concerned him, but he knew he had to find protection for the night so he pressed on.
He climbed up and peered into the shadows of the opening hoping not to find another animal taking shelter there. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized it was empty except for a large pile of dead leaves that had blown in over time. The cave provided shelter against the wind and blowing snow.
With snow falling, covering everything, there was no way for George to build a fire or gather wood to keep it going. He knew it was going to be a long cold night. Would anyone miss him?
If you want more let me know…
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
This is where the story originated:
Today at d’Verse, Merril introduced our prosery prompt clouds. In prosery we are given a line from a poem of her choosing and it must be incorporated into the flash fiction story as given. The line she gave us was: “But these clouds are clearly foreign, such an exotic clutter against the blue cloth of the sky” – from Clouds – by Constance Urdang
For a free pdf. file of the complete story, email me at: dwru27@aol.com
I float among distant stars
Collecting starlight to share
Gaze deep into zinnias
Seeds of tomorrow preserved
I watch birds and hear their songs
Writing their tunes in my poems
Yet, your indifference stings
like little ants biting me
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Sanaa introduced us to writing Korean poems, full of nature and emotions of love and loss. They are written in couplets with seven syllable lines. I wrote this title down several days ago thinking I would use it in the future. Today is the day. Hopefully this one is close to what is expected. This is not about any one person, rather about all those who are collectively, deliberately indifferent. And, to all of you who deliberately stay connected and in tune, I say thank you so much!
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
The old hunter slowly made his way up the rocky mountain side. He used his 30-30 more as a cane than a gun. It was a beautiful winter day with a cool brisk wind blowing up the hollow. He wrapped his coat tightly around his shoulders as he stopped to rest.
George enjoyed hunting for the past forty years. As he unwrapped a Hershey bar, he thought about his younger days and the thrill of getting his first deer on opening day. Now the thrill was just being able to make it to the high top. The view there was spectacular.
At the top of the ridge, he found trees bent from the wind. The clouds were different today. George wasn’t sure, “But these clouds are clearly foreign, such an exotic clutter against the blue cloth of the sky” Distant snow clouds worried him.
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Merril introduced our prosery prompt clouds. In prosery we are given a line from a poem of her choosing and it must be incorporated into a prose piece as given. The line she gave us was: “But these clouds are clearly foreign, such an exotic clutter against the blue cloth of the sky” – from Clouds – by Constance Urdang
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
For more stories: https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/2021/08/18/the-climb-three-more-segments/
A few weeks ago, I share my Haiku for Kids book with some little friends from my church. I also gave them a few of my story books as well. The oldest girl Anna is only eight years old, but very smart. The little brother Isaiah is around five or six. Their mother works with them in home school, so she was able to use them in her teaching time. They were very excited to get my books, and this morning they brought me these treasures. She worked on writing a Haiku and her little brother made up a poem as well. They colored the pictures for me, and included a beautiful thank you note at the end. This really made my day!
Lion King Aslan
Perched tall on a mountain
Majestic, Strong and Fast
Brave
The brave Reepiche
Strong is he
Pointing his sword
Fighting for Narnia
It is great that I got to join C.S. Lewis in inspiring these young minds
Inspired by C.S. Lewis – The Lion , the Witch, and the Wardrobe – from the Chronicles of Narnia
For a free pdf copy of my book Haiku for Kids, just email me at dwru27@aol.com
You can check it out here: https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/2021/07/30/haiku-for-kids-book/
In 2019 we took a Viking River Cruise for our 50th wedding anniversary. We were on the Viking Ship Alruna. The story they tell is this: Alruna – A Valkyrie The daughter of Kjárr of Valland, Alruna (Ölrún in Old Norse) was one of three Valkyries spinning linen on the shore of Wolf Lake, when they were spotted by three brothers who lived nearby. Alruna and Egil, one of the brothers, lived together for seven winters, until Alruna flew off to battle, never to return.
Viking Warrior
Strong female Valkyrie leaves
Never to return
It was the trip of a lifetime for us, as a European heatwave moved in that summer.
Photos: Dwight L. Roth The art piece portraying Alruna was at the top of the landing on the second deck.
I was watching a beautiful National Geographic show on the animals of Yellowstone. At one point two grizzly bears were fighting over the carcass of a dead elk at the edge of the river. As they pushed and shoved, the crows sitting on the limb nearby took advantage of the situation.
While the grizzlies fight
over who owns the carcass…
Crows will eat their fill
This is one of my early paintings, when I was just beginning to learn to paint several years ago.
Being retired allows me the freedom to volunteer at our local Habitat Restore. The store depends on donations from the community which are resold at our store. The money raised is used to build affordable housing for families who qualify. One of the things I have observed is that much of the donated furniture we get comes to us after the death of older family members. The children take what they want and then give us the rest to sale. Sometimes there are no children and we get most of what is left behind.
Here are two major items that were donated recently. The end tables and center piece were acquired by the owner when he was stationed in Japan. They are beautiful hand carved pieces that were then brought back when he came back to the States. The tall room divider that was donated appears to have come from China. It also was brought to this country by the owner. It is very difficult to get the full value of an object. We usually resale for about half of the original value or less. Hopefully we will find a buyer for these items.
Cherished items stay
When death come calling for us
All is left behind
Children take what is desired
Cherished memories are resold
Photos are from the Union County Habitat for Humanity Restore in Monroe, NC
Roth Poetry 