This tree is disappearing into the past at the speed of time.
[daily log: walking, 2km]
Month: December 2020
Caveat: Just the Vax
Arthur received the Moderna vaccine at SEARHC Clinic in Klawock today. Per Mike and Penny (neighbors-down-the-road), who also received the vaccine a few days ago, there will be some cold/flu-like symptoms of fairly moderate intensity over the next few days. From the literature:
The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA, under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for use in individuals 18 years of age and older. There is no FDA-approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
Anyway, the distribution here on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska is prioritized by age, descending. It may be weeks or even months before I am eligible, since I am younger and lower priority.
This fills me with optimism, however, with respect to the Coronavirus situation. I despair at the prevalence of antivaxxers here in my region (impressionistically, they may even approach the majority, here). I affirm my belief in science and in the general good intentions of people and organizations – even “evil” organizations like pharmaceutical companies.
“Never attribute to malice that which is more simply explained by stupidity.”
Caveat: Poem #1614 “But they took the fifth, on the stand”
ㅁ The moon rose, yellow. Its pale disk hovered and glowed. The trees witnessed it.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #713
This tree knew the rising moon.
[daily log: walking, 3.5km; retailing (inventory), 8hr]
Caveat: 2020
This year, 2020, was the Year of the Hypochondriac. I continued living in Rockpit, Alaska. I gave up my expectation to become a teacher in the schools here on the island, and started working as a part-time clerk in the Alaska Gifts shop. I took on duties as the matting and framing specialist. I didn’t travel off the island at all, the whole year. I did quite a bit of hobby work on my “map servers,” and I started building a treehouse on lot 73, down by the sea.
[This entry is part of a timeline I am making using this blog. I am writing a single entry for each year of my life, which when viewed together in order will provide a sort of timeline. This entry wasn’t written in 2020 – it was written in the future.]
Caveat: Poem #1613 “Amber”
ㅁ Alongside the road the grass is faded, pale gold, blowing in cold wind.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #712
This tree is the same as a few days ago. I have decided to see if it will survive if I plant it – it’s presumably a live tree, but I think it spent too long on a shelf in a store before it showed up at our house when our neighbors-down-the-road gifted to us on Christmas Eve. I’ve temporarily planted it in a planter in my greenhouse. It won’t be much warmer than outside – the greenhouse receives no direct sunlight this time of year – but it will at least be more sheltered. The white stuff is just cotton, apparently. It’s inert and should wash off over time.
[daily log: walking, 4.5km; retailing (inventory), 7hr]
Caveat: Poem #1612 “Internal contradiction”
ㅁ This poem has words, but no meaning, not a bit. So figure it out.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #711
This tree awaited the nearing dawn.
[daily log: walking, 5km; retailing (inventory), 6hr]
Caveat: Poem #1611 “Solipsism done wrong”
ㅁ What's motivation? We just neglect our despair: failed solipsism.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #710
This tree staked a claim to frosted muskeg.
[daily log: walking, 4km]
Caveat: Poem #1610 “Rime”
ㅁ the frost grows spiky on all the smooth surfaces collecting winter
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #709
This tree is wearing a discarded mask. Note that I did not place this mask here – I simply found it attached to this tree – a true sign of 2020 if ever there was one.
[daily log: walking, 4km]
Caveat: Poem #1609 “The meaning of down”
ㅁ There's water flowing down across stones and dead logs finding the low spots
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #708
This tree was given to us by our neighbors-down-the-road last night, along with some cookies. Juli mailed us some stockings which we opened in the morning. That was the sum total of Christmas, here at Rockpit.
For dinner we cooked some salmon on the traeger (smoker grill), had baked potato and spinach.
[daily log: walking, 2km]
Caveat: Poem #1608 “Thirty-first stanza”
ㅁ Kiamon looked at the city, its lights: flickering images limning her nights. Quietly brooding, she pondered her pain, but, in the end, she just sat in the rain.
– a quatrain in dactylic tetrameter.
Caveat: Tree #707
This tree towers, somewhat blurrily.
[daily log: walking, 1.5km]
Caveat: Poem #1607 “Clutter”
ㅁ No inspiration, instead, only cluttered words, slopping about here.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #706
This tree caught some snow.
[daily log: walking, 3km; retailing, 7hr]
Caveat: Poem #1606 “Raven, crow”
ㅁ The raven wheeled near the road, and landed... watched and waited as I slowed. Could it be... the raven crowed?
– an englyn penfyr.
Caveat: Tree #705
This tree was seen by me along the road to work.
[daily log: walking, 3km; retailing, 7hr]
Caveat: Poem #1605 “Spin, tilt”
ㅁ Just at the ridge, the half moon, hovering, it hung, waiting, and then soon, behind clouds, like stones unhewn.
– an englyn penfyr.
Caveat: Tree #704
This tree was big and old.
[daily log: walking, 2km; retailing, 6hr]
Caveat: Poem #1604 “Ode to Hole Pot”
ㅁ Most potholes could not be compared to you: the greatest obstacle I had yet seen. So stealthily did you lie there, it's true, awaiting my car's tires - you were quite mean. The way to deal with creatures of your sort involves a dodging kind of driving skill. In fact it can resemble healthy sport, but doubts and worries lurk beyond each hill. Perhaps I sped along a bit too fast. It seems I could have slowed down just a bit. The luck I'd had in swerving could not last. My god, that thing looked like a giant pit! But in the end I simply hit the brake. Behold, a pothole like unto a lake.
– a sonnet in iambic pentameter.
Caveat: Tree #703
This tree was visible from the deck of Arthur’s house.
[daily log: walking, 2km]
Caveat: Poem #1603 “A diagram of a tree”
ㅁ spinning leaves yellow leaves vibrant leaves green leaves wind-blown branches wandering branches smooth branches attenuated branches forking branches lazy branches rough branches strong branches the tree's trunk raises the tree's leaves journeys from earth to sky inevitably twisted roots spiraling roots vagrant roots still roots
– a quennet.
Caveat: Tree #702
This tree was outside my classroom window almost exactly 10 years ago, in December, 2010, in Hongnong Village, Yeonggwang County, Jeollanam Province, South Korea.
I made a chocolate cake, to celebrate the impending winter solstice.
[daily log: walking, 1km]
Caveat: Poem #1602 “Life’s trajectory”
ㅁ tree poem tree poem tree poem tree poem tree
– a minimalist, free-form poem, summarizing my recent life.
Caveat: Tree #701
This tree felt the surging sea at its roots.
[daily log: walking, 1.5km]
Caveat: Poem #1601 “Back and forth”
ㅁ We drove into town, to the stores there. Also, there was an appointment, at the clinic in Klawock. We had the time wrong, though. We had to leave then... come back later. We drove south and north... and...
– a nonnet.
Caveat: Tree #700
This tree is trying to start life under a big tank of kerosene.
[daily log: walking, 1.5km]
Caveat: Poem #1600 “Free bird”
ㅁ I watched the cormorant watching me. It can be easily alarmed. And then it will launch itself serenading the sea, squawking and flapping, highly annoyed, dismissive, aloof, free.
– a nonnet.
Caveat: Tree #699
This tree is growing in a hillside of rocks.
[daily log: walking, 2km; retailing, 7hr]