Songs from the Wood

The idea for this story came from newsfeeds on events in Gaza.

Songs from the Wood

 

 

When Reynard strolled into town no one seemed surprised, he was always a chancer.  He hung around the chippy waiting for his next meal wrapped in yesterday’s news.

 

A chorus broke the dawn with mournful airs whilst squirrels squabbled over peanuts.  I watched him snatch mouthfuls of water from next door’s pond.  I would’ve blamed him for the missing fish had not yesterday a heron emptied it.

 

The paperboy startled him and off he shot behind the shed.

 

Suddenly, all was still, except for the lament of distant traffic.  I snatched the headlines: DEER STALKERS – an errant doe had suckled her fawn outside the police station.

 

Then, I saw them, a great cloud of mixed fowl descending on the skyscrapers in a cacophony of feathers, their voices cried heavenward in funereal unison.

 

I drove to the country, parting the tide of exiles: rabbits; shrews; and, mice - all city-bound.  And there in a valley, again I heard that lament as the wind moaned over holes where trees had once rooted.  A forest of pine transfigured into newspapers. 

Yesterday’s news.

 

Reviews

[jen -- JG]

A quiet peaceful counrty scene - where all is well and nature is as nature does - in the beginning.

This is a circular story, from the beginning to the end. Well constructed, descriptive with strong imagery and sense that all is well.

The second half of this piece tells of a devastation almost unbearable after the peaceful beauty of the first half.

Yet this is so true. Nature is too often destroyed in the search for what we humans call progress.

The final line "Yesterday's News" could be seen to be a tought kick at those who do these things because if this way of life continues it may well be us who becomes Yesterdays News.

Well written and hard hitting in a gentle way.

I like the write.

jen- JG

[Steffi]

I like your imagery. Its really well done.
Short but effective enought to be a complete story.
Good write

[Brie]

I really feel this story. It is so sad that trees get cut down and animals are forced out of the forests. Great job on bringing a big issue to our attention.
-Brie

[THE BLACK SEAL]

interesting... i can only think of jethro tull however as songs from the wood is one of my fav albums

[Lucinda Bogart]

I love this. So evocative. The sacrifice of trees for news that's no good to begin with... The absolute waste of all that is good...the metaphor of birds and animals begs for the conclusion that we are all just animals trying to make our way as best we can.

[Lisa]

I really like the simplicity of this story. As a nature lover, I enjoy reading anything that has to do with it. I really liked the line "A chorus broke the dawn with mournful airs whilst squirrels squabbled over peanuts" A chorus broke the dawn, it takes to the early morning when I wake up, get my coffee and go outside to sit on my porch waiting for the sun to rise. In the darkness, I don't hear anything, but once the sun rises, everything comes to life. A great story Joshua!