Beside Still Waters
There are only a few rivers where I live.
One of them (though it is really only a stream) runs through a large open field of tall grass .
The day was hazy, and I followed the stream as it meandered through the grass, looking for a place to paint...
It was an enjoyable walk. I was heading back to the car to get my gear when there was a disturbance in the grass- a large movement. I was hoping to see a deer, which always makes the day better, but was happily surprised to see a large Turkey (about three feet, round) pop up not ten feet away.
Ahhhh, nature.
Turkeys are common, and I have seen a number of them, but none so close as this one. Just last week someone had mentioned that Benjamin Franklin had wanted to make it the National bird. This person laughed and expressed his relief that it was not chosen, because "it's rather a dumb bird", he said.
I didn't know about that, but those were my thoughts as I looked on this large bird.
He didn't fly away as I expected him to, instead he began cackling very loudly and flapping his wings and running around. I gave it a wide berth, but instead of running away he started running towards me. I moved back, he moved forward. I moved left, he moved right. It was not your typical square dance. All the time it was cackling loudly at the air.
I was pretty sure I could take it if I had to, but I didn't want to find out how I was going to do it.
I stopped to see if it would just keep going, but it kept circling and cackling and flapping its wings wildly.
I made loud noises and kicked at the air. Now I was looking as dumb as the Turkey. (A grown man yelling and kicking and waving his hands at a turkey smacks of the ridiculous, but I assure you it happened just as I am describing it).
Well, the Turkey finally ran off when the Vultures arrived.
I looked into one of their eyes (so cold as death). I could hear their wings flap just above me. Needless to say, I didn't stick around to talk Turkey with them.
I walked rather briskly from the scene scratching my head and decided I could surely find a more peaceful place to paint than this...
Post new comment