Above the waterfall
5th November
A strange croak – looking up from the valley bottom, a heron flying, pterodactyl silhouette dark and slow above the trees, flapping quietly by like ancient time.
Nearer and more immediately present, the higher trill of a wren above the roaring water.
A farmer roughly yelling, deep rural tones directing his dog as they guided his sheep across the lane from one field to another. Mounting tension as the sheep sped the wrong way - up the road instead of straight across – and seeming stress as the farmer grew coarse of tongue.
Eventually, all were safely through the right gate and, while the farmer and dog yelled and worked the herd on towards the following field, his daughter closed the gate behind the final sheep, and with the innocence of childhood glee gave an immense smile of pure pleasure and delight in the fun of the chase. It was the smile of all children everywhere.