Dear Grasshopper,
I’ve noticed that you seem busy doing nothing but lazily hopping about. You look brown. You were green. It’s past mid-October. I assume you’ll be leaving us soon if you’re not already gone. But why now? Your end nears, but y’all been jumping all around for months.
Alas, your hop seems to have lost a foot or two. And your wings look stiff. Summer’s done, and I’d say you may be too. Do you know that? Does it bother you? Any day now you’ll be sidewalk ant food.
Soon there will be none of you. Then, like magic, Spring will bring you back to life in swarms. Like hungry chewing herbivorous flying insects, you’ll eat and reproduce again as you’ve done for 250 million years, a perpetual plague.
And you’re not alone. Your eleven thousand brothers and sisters are your type. Let’s not forget your rude, thankless cousins from the cricket, katydid, and locust families. They are always coming around singing for a free dinner or a little play time.
The ants are busy. But you’ve laid your eggs. Winter comes. You couldn’t care less. You’ll just happily fiddle away your time until the quiet end. But is that really the end?
Sincerely,
Mockingbird McBeak
Look both ways, horizontally and vertically.
Observe life.
Mind gaps and notice change.
Our Literary Journey 
does Mockingbird receive a reply? If he does, please share. Still, very creative, Bill. I loved reading this. Be well. xo
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Thank you, Selma.
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I think one of the things I like most about walking outside every day is noticing all the changes in that circle of life that surrounds us.
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Yes! Artists, and especially photographers, must see the unseen.
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Agreed! I shall put myself into the artist of photography category (I have to, to justify my ridiculous quantity of snaps!)
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I agree with you, Dale.
When it’s what we do, I see no reason not to claim the moniker of what we are.
My friend, Jay, (https://pluviolover.com/2019/11/23/poetry-sammis-weekender-longevity/) was a photographer/artist, back in the day when one needed a home lab to print them up, taught me how to look and see things. It changed my world, but it also took time to learn. That’s part of the ‘look both ways and mind the gaps” thing.
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Glad we are of similar mind.
And I remember reading that one. Isn’t it amazing how certain people bring so much to our lives? Love that.
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Jay and I were close. I was his best man. His wife, however, despised me. Oh well.
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That makes things difficult, for sure. Whatever did you do to make her despise you?
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I am not sure. it may go back to their wedding. I think the chemistry just did not work.
Oddly, I had no problem with her. Just one of those peeps I could piss off in a New York minute. Last time I saw them was at their home in Nebraska. And yes, it was something I said, even then. Oh, well. 🙂
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It happens. She must have been jealous of your friendship. Sometimes it’s as silly as that.
My late husband’s best friend married a woman I could take or leave. She’s ok but I won’t cry if I don’t see her again. He had another friend with a c**t for a wife. SHE was barred from ever being in my presence again… though I would have been forgiving enough just for Mick’s funeral.
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You’re right. It happens. Not often, thankfully. Now, it does not matter.
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I hear ya… pretty much same for me. I do see Andre and Tammy once and again and my son deals with Andre for his car so there is still a connection of sorts.
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It must be so very nice and carefree to be that kind of creature
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