- Dale Bowman
Oo-eek & UNIKII: Ramble with the Lady
Squabbling robins barrel rolled
through the barely budding brush
by the side rail, formerly a trail
above the south old clay pit
Sounded like kids arguing
over a bouncing ball
But that came later
(In medias res
Shakespeare)
Back in time, setting off with Lady
our family's mutt, morning burst in light
filling freshly scrubbed skies
Sounds of awakening spring
Robins on all sides as
we rambled through town
Cooing sounds too on all sides
from mourning doves
settling into natural rhythms
of spring
Crossing the side rail separating
town from the wildness
of the town pond
Heard red-winged blackbirds trilling
all around the north pit
Pairs of Canada geese swam
on both pits
none nesting so far
Quiet, by geee standards
readying for that serious
business of getting busy
Four wood ducks squeaked
off from trees by the ditch
to the east of the south pit
Squeaked is
not the right verb
for the sounds
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
describes the sound wood ducks make
when frightened and taking flight
as, ``Oo-eek''
``Oo-eek!''
Sounds about right
Back on the edge of town sun
shattered the calm
through the stark metal
of the grain elevators
(Do you hear me
Charles Demuth?)

A grain car from Klemme Coop Grain stained
with brightly colored ``UNIKII'' sat
sat on side rail catching
eyes
We all want that
``UNIKII''
sounding and looking
Pair of Euasian collared-doves croaked
landing in a tree next
to the village hall
Again, the cooing of doves
on all sides in town made
me think of walking
in a balloon of cooing
The neighbor's black pup gave
Lady hell as we turned
the corner toward home
Off-my-turf sounds
Lady sprinted up the front steps
scattering sparrows
from below the feeders
(Work to do towrd home
Gary Snyder)
``UNIKII''
``Oo-eek''