The king struts proudly And she looks on, unimpressed The queen of the hill King of the Zoo Lionesses hunt Unlike the king of the zoo For pride, not glory Next Stop, Dinner Words and images by Michael J. Hall
For A Whiskered Face
Deep in the velvet where the willows weep, A foggy mirror shows secrets it should keep.The pace slows down to a gentle hum,It's the rhythm of the wood where the shy things come. Oh, the otter pond is a dreaming place, A quiet drink for a whiskered face.Where stale waters stir and creatures creep by,Under... Continue Reading →
While wandering through the varied and lush tropical foliage, the air thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of rustling fronds, I marveled at the vibrant greens surrounding me. The sun filtered through the canopy, casting dappled light on the path ahead. As I ventured further, I stumbled upon a hidden trail... Continue Reading →
If you opened the door to your hotel room and flipped on the light to see this bright pink stalk of flowers greeting you, how would you react? Would you be tickled? Would you lose the color in your cheeks? Would you think your imagination has run wild? Would it make you feel pretty? Or... Continue Reading →
Finding Solace on the Shores of Lonesome Lake
Has my sister really left us here on this remote shoreline? How can that be? Why would she? She just left for a moment, she'll be back shortly, right? She can't have done so knowingly. She can't have envisioned her path with us would end here. She can't have wanted others to feel this lost.... Continue Reading →
This image is 100% real and not AI generated. It seems strange to have to make that claim, but this is the reality in which we live. The lines between fact and fiction are increasingly blurred and challenging to discern. The distinction between the artificial and natural objects in this photograph though should be obvious.... Continue Reading →
This totem pole is installed at the Seneca Park Zoo. The sign beside it reads in part: "Walter Harris and Art Sterrit, both of the Gitksan Nation in British Columbia, Canada, came to Rochester to carve this totem pole by hand. For one month, they worked with gouges, handmade knives and chisels. They used a... Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage: The Wampanoag Story
It's probably no coincidence that the U.S. recognizes November as both Native American Heritage Month and the annual celebration of Thanksgiving. After all, we were brought up with stories of the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving shared in harmony with a welcoming of Indigenous Peoples from the region. Though much of this romanticized depiction has since been... Continue Reading →
The Surreal Impact of Beauty: Discover Frisson
The Scenario A graduate school philosophy professor presented me with a scenario based on aesthetic theory. He suggested that someone could be rendered virtually paralyzed in the presence of pure beauty. That you could become overwhelmed with awe to the point that you could not function normally. Your primary feelings could overload your rational thoughts,... Continue Reading →
