Fire in the Belly

Yesterday I walked in the marsh land in our glorious First Landing State Park with my artist friend and walkin' buddy, 'Debster'. We made our destination a high forested dune about two miles in from the trailhead. Once there we lay in the warmth of the sunshine enjoying the long views of the sparkle and dazzle of the Lynnhaven River .

In the near distance I listen to the unmistakeable high pitched call of Bald Eagle.

Following our break we wind our way down the steep sandy path and enter into the marshy lowland. Here the landscape is arresting as it is populated with dozens of stately skeletal remains of long ago flooded trees. Picture a forest of smooth (the bark has long since fallen away) and contorted Giacometti-like scuptures standing in the shallow marsh-lake.

In one of the tallest of tree totems we notice movement and stop. Now we are transfixed as we witness a pair of Bald Eagles copulating. When done they vigorously shake their feathers, hop each to their own branch, throw their heads back, beaks pointing toward the sky and in unison laugh long and long. Then they become completely quiet, stately, grand and still.

We are able to move along the path observing them within closer and closer range until, giddy with delight and the magic of the moment we finally turn and beam back along the river path each of us filled with a fire of enthusiasm, joy and love of life burning in the belly.