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The Vultures are Circling
Beaky Buzzard is a great favorite of mine, and I still enjoy that marvelous first cartoon appearance of his with Bugs Bunny. It isn’t often Bugs gets upstaged, but Beaky managed to do it. Despite the smoky haze the wonderfully warm weather drew me outside early this morning where I could enjoy the wonders of nature of my surroundings in this part of the Sequoia National Forest. But as the cat and I were basking in the warmth of the balmy summer morning I noticed the Turkey Vultures circling overhead. The Kern River Valley boasts a nature preserve that draws birders worldwide, and is also the Butterfly Mecca of California. But we also have an annual Turkey Vulture count, and here in Bodfish Canyon where I live the sky overhead has been darkened by as many as 200 of the critters circling in a bunch all at the same time as though orchestrated by some master choreographer. Now I grant you the spectacle of vultures circling overhead brings to mind many a scenario, and what with earthquakes, floods, fires, and drought I can’t help but consider these winged scavengers and what they represent of death and destruction. Poe had his Raven and we have plenty of those here in the valley as well; but as a sure indicator of the presence of death though Hitchcock didn’t use them the vultures are the most significant sign of such. While Poe could hardly have written such a masterpiece using a vulture they remind me of Ben Franklin wanting the wild turkey to be our national bird. Fortunately in this particular instance despite Ben’s genius and practical bent he was outvoted. While turkeys are a valued food item even my own Indian ancestors sang the praises of eagles as a symbol rather than turkeys notwithstanding Ben and T. R. But as I watched the vultures circling overhead this morning I was reminded once again of something Henry Thoreau wrote: “There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted. It is human, it is divine, carrion.” Henry was making direct reference to the evil arising from the unintended consequences of those forcing their view of what is best on others not like minded and “would rather suffer evil the natural way.” Nature does indeed provide vultures whose purpose is to cleanse the earth of carrion, but we seek in vain for the vultures that would cleanse humankind of the divine carrion of tainted goodness. No one for example of any noble character wants to be a politician. Like lawyers in too many instances the role of a politician is that of Henry’s goodness tainted, divine carrion the stench of which reaches everywhere but without the benefit of Nature’s vultures to cleanse away the filth. So it is that as I watch the circling vultures here in Bodfish Canyon I’m reminded they still represent Nature’s way of dealing with carrion, and cannot help wondering if Nature herself has had it with our species defiling our planet? As a metaphor, I see the vultures circling everywhere and just waiting for the moment to descend when the stench of death has reached Biblical proportions. There is an old hymn we used to sing in our small church in Little Oklahoma that goes “How beautiful heaven must be.” Considering the plight of our species and how we have fouled our own nest, it isn’t any wonder some of us are longing for a promised heaven in a hereafter we are not likely to ever experience on earth. It seems there are just too many descending on us promising to do us good, insisting on doing us their idea of good from whom we should flee as quickly as Henry claimed he would from such persons, knowing they represent divine carrion, goodness tainted by such people demanding we all become part of their odd society. It may be there are vultures circling ready to pick the bones of America and there is nothing I can do about that, but I’ll tell you what I am going to do. I am going to enjoy what I can of summer’s warmth here in the Kern River Valley; I am going to enjoy watching the vultures circling overhead, the butterflies, quail, doves, hummingbirds and others of my feathered friends, the numerous lizards frolicking among the rocks and count my blessings I am able to enjoy these companions in such a setting.
22 comments from 5 users
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posted by
catpaw
on Jun 28, 2008 at 08:43 PM
I must say, Sam, you do have a way of appreciating nature for what it is, rather than appearances. Most people I know associate buzzards as sinister death omens and quite ugly. I mean, surely you have heard of relatives drooling over an estate or will as "vultures." While I wouldn't want a vulture for a pet, I always kind of liked the critters. I envy your setting to enjoy the view; at the same time, I'm happy that someone can. I had planned to run off into the mountains and hills near Yosemite this month. I don't think the fires will allow it. posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 03:45 AM
Thanks catpaw, all creatures have a purpose though some more cuddly and pleasant than others. This fire season certainly not looking good at all. Those of us here in the valley are concerned and fire has come too close to my place in time past. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 04:10 AM
Enjoy Sam, right at the moment I have 2 seagull babies that were kicked out of the nest and are enjoying our cat`s food on the veranda, little spotted critters and making a mess everywhere but they have 4 weeks to get thier wings before we return to the B Village. If Mr Des Pois is still station chief in Isabella tell him I said to take extra care of your plot... He will... Enjoy.... posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 04:15 AM
Thanks MP; I will definitely check that out. Little seagulls; spoil the little critters. I often miss the sights and sounds, the aroma of the South Bay in SoCal. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 04:58 AM
I`m on Rhodes at the moment, never realised how much a seagull can discharge spent food... I think more comes out than goes in..lol...messy little creatures.. but I`m the parent and the guest love them.. I told them they have 4 weeks to fend for themselfs.. cat hates them but very gentle and sharing... posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 05:03 AM
How well I recall the "recycling" ability of gulls; not one of their more endearing characteristics but like the vultures that's nature. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 05:05 AM
Sam.. are you having a hard time sleeping?... Question.. did Maurice DesPois retire from the Isabella fire station? posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 05:15 AM
Sam.. email... posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 05:17 AM
At my age sleep is problematic, and the weather takes various turns adding to the problems for us oldsters. I'll be back in bed shortly for a while trying to rest, up and down. I'm not sure about Maurice since I haven't kept up with that. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 05:25 AM
Maurice was a good man,, and I hope he still is... coming back soon.... posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 05:53 AM
Sam, How do you feel about "Gabo" Gabriel Garcia Marquez.." One hundred years of solitude" have read it in two languages and the English doesn`t translate right., thoughts? posted by
lixalox
on Jun 29, 2008 at 07:19 AM
I tend to think Carlos Fuentes, and his book "The Death of Artemio Cruz," resonates with Sam's writings. There is something about blind ambition infiltrated by an ideology that pretends the good. A key difference is that in the end Cruz writes of futility while Sam has a more medicinal take on endings. I can only ascribe this perspective difference to a belief in goodness on Sam's part, and that makes Sam a more difficult read, but much more gratifying to the intellect and soul. posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 07:40 AM
It has been a very long time but memory served to remind me Marquez was a voice in the wilderness and one I could relate to. How very tired we become when struggling with issues so far beyond our control to mitigate in a world that builds monuments to the prophets it stones. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 07:45 AM
A man unable to write in a free voice,, but ,he won... posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 07:56 AM
It's one of the attractions of butterflies for me. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 08:07 AM
You have read it.. .. posted by
lixalox
on Jun 29, 2008 at 08:09 AM
No, maggie. Unhappily, there is no free voice. I have concluded that to be an untenable truth, although true. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Go write in South America under the threat of death and have to alter your wit into a fantasy world ,, then have that fantasy understood for what it is by the world... A true author and great man.... posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 08:37 AM
It seems more and more we are facing that prospect here in America MP. posted by
Maggiepoo
on Jun 29, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Only if it is not a commercial product... who wants something of substance if it won`t sell or be made into a 3 part mini-series? No problem you have other languages and writers that do have a burning fire and something to say in the world... posted by
ALICEN
on Jun 29, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Sam - the vultures are circling. Except this time it's on the ground, and the circle becomes smaller and smaller until we're all swallowed up in their visions of perfection. Free this, free that. I can't think about it -- it gives me a headache. But actual birds, yes, I love to watch them. Now, seagulls, that's perhaps a different matter. We have turned seagulls from the beautiful creatures they were, always near the water, always near land, into vultures of another color. Try shopping in a popular shopping area where there may be -- horrors! -- a Burger King or some such. One cannot walk in the parking lot without being nearly dive-bombed by them. They mate on light poles -- who knows, maybe they nest there, too. And this could be miles and miles from any water that might once have been associated with them. As mentioned, I do try not to think of the political vultures, but we've had months and months of them, with no end in sight. It would be nice to have slept this year, to awaken sometime around the end of November, or perhaps January of '09.
posted by
samheath
on Jun 29, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I know what you are talking about Alicen. I spent enough time with seagulls to realize how pushy they can get. Like you, I can hardly wait for the political charade to end and those "birds" go back to roost.
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