A recent pilgrimage to the Aldo Leopold "shack" near Baraboo, Wisconsin revived the environmental spirit in my own soul. I find a number of elements about the Leopold farm and shack draw me nearer to the very pragmatic and conservation-based "land ethic" he professed in such an eloquent manner--both in written word and through practical application. None of the features of his humble "chicken coop-altered shack" is perhaps more directly related to my own life meaning than respective fires we built for warmth. Thusly--the picture of Aldo's fireplace and my own simple ode to the first fire of the fall. One must listen to the fire crackle while reading the humble verse.
Ode to the Wood Fire
A magical
light consumes this lair,
the fall’s
first fire of the year,
a frosted
evening approaches here,
greeted with
radiant heat so near.
The aged
wood so deftly cleaved,
is raging
hot now where it seethes,
confined
within this iron sheath,
flickering
flames of chill relief.
The season’s
come to give rejoice,
and
southbound birds give approving voice,
to garden’s
bountiful foods of choice,
now fading
fast the fate they face.
Many
pleasures we revere,
small and
large, we hold all dear,
but most
anticipated its quite clear,
the first
fall fire of the year.
