Firefly symphony

There were thousands.  By the time I got my camera and returned to the spot, the chorus had already peaked and the flies were higher in the trees, drifting towards the moon.   If you could see them blinking, you'd notice distinctive rhythmic patterns exhibited by different groups, and the patterns were performed in exact unison with each other-- it really felt like witnessing a mysterious sacred concert, and we were surrounded in it.  My dad, an entomologist, says this dirt road is one of the best and most active firefly spots he's ever seen, and that the planned development for this area should make efforts at reducing light pollution and maintaining as much of an undisturbed buffer as possible -- or this will be lost.

(end of Penobscot Street, Orono, Maine)

KigaliUp Lightsabers

On the island, everyone gets a lightsaber!  (For peaceful and danceful purposes only, of course)  We will be sharing a few more pictures from the fantastic KigaliUp Music Festival in coming weeks.  Play on.

(Kigali, Rwanda)

DJ Kevin Soundsystem Ruff

This DJ Kevin sure knows how to throw a party.  The bass was so heavy it knocked my fillings out.   

(Musanze, Rwanda)

Barefoot field

At the Ballet

 Last Saturday Ballet Rwanda gave their Spring Performance -- a wonderful interpretation of Motown classics.  The choreography was stunning, the costumes perfect, and the dancers were in fine form.  I think I could get into attending ballet shows... can't wait for the next one.  

 

 

Jump Around

Jump around, jump up and get down
Jump around, jump around
Jump up and get down
Jump up, jump up and get down

Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump

 

Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump

  

Birds in Flight

 (all photos taken during a week in Kenya - Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Samburu, Mt. Kenya)

                      The Windhover by Gerard Manley Hopkins

                      To Christ our Lord

I CAUGHT this morning morning’s minion, king-
dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird,—the achieve of; the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion.