Frozen

I've found Jack heron fishing in the far corner of our neighbour's lake and photographed him taking off for many days running. Not today as the lake was frozen over. I spotted him from a distance, perched in the thuggish leylandii hedge, sunbathing and twiddling his thumbs. :)

It was so beautifully sunny that I went bug-hunting on the south-facing wall of number thirteen glasshouse. I was hoping for jumping spiders. None around but I was pleased to find a fat hairy caterpillar to herald the bug togging season. :) Lovely sunset this evening, I went to Rye Hill and just caught it. (Extras)

Today's poem is Praise Song For My Mother by Grace Nichols. https://genius.com/Grace-nichols-praise-song-for-my-mother-annotated

As soon as I read of the plantain I guessed that GN was probably from the Caribbean. She is from Guyana and the poem is in the style of traditional African-Caribbean paeans. I like the simple un-gushing style. I've Googled the "flame tree" and it really is wide-spreading, a beautiful protective umbrella. The second part of that verse refers to what we in our family call love on a plate. GN's mother was everything to her and urged her to take on the world.