Winter in La Jolla by Edward Hujsak

Winter in La Jolla
by
Edward Hujsak

Unseasonably warm weather, the weatherman says,

reminding me that a backyard noonday nap is a good idea.

My dog lies beside me, our bodies sunlit, our eyes shaded.

He is asleep, dreaming of important things, while I observe:

Passenger planes drawing arrow-straight chalk lines across a slate blue sky,

and how a mysterious hand erases them, one after another.

The sun shining obliquely through drops appearing on the pool fill line,

illuminating each to shine like Jupiter, then flare like novas, dropping to the water.

Honey bees in the corner hive, in wintery torpor, venturing out to scents

of Rosemary and Primrose I planted yesterday.

The first Camellia bloom, out of reach atop a budded tree,

arrogant in boldness, smiling down at having won this year's trophy.

Sparrows fluttering down from the Camellia tree like falling leaves,

then flying up again - a video in reverse.

Two thrushes scouting the bird houses, then flying off,

the female doubtless not impressed with the amenities.

The monarch butterflies I'd thought had come to winter

in the eucalyptus tree have fled; they'd only stopped to rest a while.

Edward Hujsak (1925 - 2018) was born in New Hampshire to a Polish farming family. A chemical engineering graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Ed worked on propulsion systems at General Dynamics during development of the Atlas and Centaur rockets. He was propulsion engineer on John Glenn's famous orbital flight and served as chief of preliminary design at General Dynamics Astronautics Division for ten years, accumulating more than a dozen patents in the aerospace field. In addition to his numerous engineering achievements, Ed was a writer, artist, sculptor, and builder of furniture and musical instruments. In his spare time, Ed made more than 2000 wooden birds, dogs, and race cars for the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association, which distributes them to sick and needy children.

Dorcas:
A lovely picture, a tone poem.
Posted 01/26/2013 02:20 PM

marenomitchell:
Thanks for this warmth, color and movement!
Posted 01/23/2013 12:16 PM

Wilda Morris:
Obviously not winter in Illinois! It was fun to visualize myself in La Jolla for a few minutes!
Posted 01/23/2013 09:12 AM

dotief@comcast.net:
Wonderful poem! Great images that awaken wintery senses!
Posted 01/23/2013 08:56 AM

Larry Schug:
The temperature has not been above zero, day or night, for going on four days now, here in central Minnesota. Thank you, Edward for transporting me to a place where water remains liquid.
Posted 01/23/2013 07:30 AM

erinsnana:
I want to move to California (from Boston) immediately. Lovely, lovely images...
Posted 01/23/2013 07:17 AM

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