"Out from the woods
trail the timid deer,
traipse into town
without much fear.
Browse lawns,
taste tulips,
lip lilies,
and at dusk
go tap-tapping down
the car-less blacktop.
Their brown eyes shine
under bright streetlights,
large ears twitching
at the town-quiet night."
Some of the stories heard in the long months of isolation during the pandemic concerned the animals who reclaimed some of the spaces that had once been theirs. It wasn't surprising to researchers to find these animals often traveled further and moved more freely when roads and sidewalks weren't clogged with people and activity. The poems in this book were inspired by the changes that happened while we were inside and had the opportunity to note what was going on outside without us.
The author invites readers to consider how life would be different if we were the ones unseen. Children peek through windows in a variety of homes as they chance to see what these creatures do when humans are not in their home spaces. The quiet and carefully worded descriptions include deer, ducks, bunnies, coyotes, mountain goats, porcupines, foxes, and birds.
It is a lovely book to read aloud, and will certainly inspire young listeners to think carefully about our impact on the animals who share our world. Josee Bisaillon uses a mix of collage, colored pencils, soft pastels, watercolor and digital montage to create detailed natural surroundings that speak to the freedom felt. The many vantage points children have for keeping watch surely add to the appeal and discussion.
"When it is we
who are hidden away,
the animals come out
to explore our place.
And then we see
how we and they
all share this earth,
all share this space."
Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment