Good lord what a weekend. Martinez made national news again this time not for beavers. But for racism! Imagine that. I’m horrified just thinking about it but if you’re curious just google the word Martinez and you will know the whole story. And to think we used to be famous for good things!
This morning I was sent a photo by Rusty Cohn of a beaver lodge out by the Napa Airport. It was shared on facebook briefly by Kathi Zoe Llorna Anderson, and is a nice thing to see. When I was a child my parents VERY SPECIAL NIGHT was a steak at Jonseys at the Napa airport right below sheey creek where this was taken. There are beavers at every level of my past. And future I hope.
Which reminds me very much of the lovely poem sent to me by Chris Jones. the farmer in Cornwall who first allowed beavers on his land. He is now a founding member of The Beaver Trust and a regular poster on the Beaver Forum facebook page.
Beaver
Silent swimmer, slipping through
a silken meniscus of green reflecting
watery light.
Unpaid worker, clearing brambles,
coppicing trees. cleaning water,
inventing ponds.
Generous host, making homes
for plants, insects, newts and fish.
Creator of jobs for otter and heron.
Bold author of reimagined headwaters,
unconscious sequester,
fierce protector, little person.
Please come back to a river near me.
Lovely Chris. Thank you so much for sharing. I asked him to record the audio because it would be so fun to hear read by the poet in his Cornish accent.
I am especially fond of that last line.
