Archive for May 22nd, 2010
Prairie Sloughs – Prairie Swampland
For those who don’t know, this is a Red-Winged Blackbird, a very common bird found along the small ponds, marshes and sloughs that are found on the prairies. It is a cheerful bird with a pleasant song, though it is a bit shy as it flies away at the least disturbance. On the prairies in Saskatchewan, the term “slough” is used to refer to all small bodies of water. I love hanging out in swamplands as anyone reading here can already guess.
Swamplands are a vibrant place of life, not just a place of dank muck and vicious blood-sucking insects, though they are there too. Walking on the edge of a swamp is liable to have one end up covered in mud and wet as well as scratching at insect bites. Unless one is very careful, a slip will quickly have one covered in the ooze that has the odor of death and decay clinging. Yet, it is only by walking on the edges that one can get close enough to appreciate the stuff that would otherwise be hidden.
What amazes me the most in terms of the swamplands, is seeing the vibrancy of life. Ducks, Mudhens, Loons, Geese, Muskrats and Beaver are just some of the life forms that find these prairie swamplands a place of feasting. It is interesting to see the ducks stick their heads into the water with their tails up in the air as they find nourishment under the surface.
This is what we also need, to descend into the unconscious, our personal swampland, in order to find nourishment for our souls.
