Nature

Fire in the night
You wouldn’t think that a town in a state halfway down the east coast would be so cold tonight. But here it was, it was freezing, the damp parts of the earth iced over. The breath of anything moving and hustling in the clear air created misty puffs of condensation. “What did that boy call it? Smoke, that’s right the Rennard boy called it smoke, but it wasn’t. I know what smoke is, smoke comes with fire, and fire brings the burning.” High in the tree the old barn owl contemplated the night, slowly rotating her head. “Burning,” sense memory of smoke and heat filled the owl’s mind. She had lived in this area since she was a chick, seen many people come and go, but she had only seen one house fire.
By Ben Underwood4 years ago in Earth
The Lost Hope
The Lost Hope A short story by Sunny Iacono The year is 2179, and humans' neglect and disregard for nature has come to the point where there is no hope for humanity or any life on earth for that matter. The skies used to be a vibrant blue but have now turned into a rusty brown, filled with intoxicating gasses and sharp pieces of silica dust that will slice your lungs until they fill up with blood. The once rich, and bright green grass has turned to dirt, and the very last bits of it left on this planet will have shriveled up and died by the time you have finished reading this sentence. And the blue oceans that were responsible for life itself, that humans could go to and play cheerfully for hours at a time, cooling themselves from the heat is now gone, and you will be lucky if you find a single grimy puddle. The humans have extra water stored in tanks, and live underground in bunkers like moles, hiding from the sunlight until they die. They took farm animals to breed and harvest, and others to use for an ecosystem while leaving the rest of us out here to die, from their mess.
By Sunny Iacono4 years ago in Earth
Beautyful Birds
Of all the birds of our groves and meadows, the Boblink was the envy of my boyhood. He crossed my path in the sweetest weather, and the sweetest season of the year, when all nature called to the fields, and the rural feeling throbbed in every bosom; but when I, luckless urchin! was doomed to be mewed up, during the livelong day, in that purgatory of boyhood, a school-room. It seemed as if the little varlet mocked at me, as he flew by in full song, and sought to taunt me with his happier lot. Oh, how I envied him! No lessons, no tasks, no hateful school; nothing but holiday, frolic, green fields, and fine weather. Had I been then more versed in poetry, I might have addressed him in the words of Logan to the cuckoo:
By shiv4 years ago in Earth
The Birds of Spring
My quiet residence in the country, aloof from fashion, politics, and the money market, leaves me rather at a loss for important occupation, and drives me to the study of nature, and other low pursuits. Having few neighbors, also, on whom to keep a watch, and exercise my habits of observation, I am fain to amuse myself with prying into the domestic concerns and peculiarities of the animals around me; and, during the present season, have derived considerable entertainment from certain sociable little birds, almost the only visitors we have, during this earl part of the year.
By shiv4 years ago in Earth
Birds
Green meadows and brown furrowed fields re-appearing: The fishermen hauling their shad to the shore,And cloud-cleaving geese to the lakes are a-steering; When first the lone butterfly flits on the wing, When red glow the maples, so fresh and so pleasing,
By shiv4 years ago in Earth
The Collector
[Inspired by a true story.] Stephen couldn’t decide which pain was worse; the pounding in his head from the blood that was rushing there, or the knowledge that all this could’ve so easily been avoided if he hadn’t decided to take off his coat, or if he'd remembered to tighten his harness again afterwards, or if he hadn’t tried to turn halfway around to tuck his cold gear into his climbing bag.
By Mariah Proctor4 years ago in Earth
Maude's Hidden Past
Maude was asleep. Nothing unusual about that it was nighttime after all The same dream occurred each night which disturbed her. Not in a scary twisted way but an exhilarating excited way. And it always ended the same.
By Louise Martin4 years ago in Earth
Singing To The Barn Owl
Singing To The Barn Owl; A New Beginning I inherited a country estate, which consisted of a house, a barn, and five and a half acres where two horses had been kept. I’d been longing for a place in the countryside where I didn’t have to listen to traffic noises and barking dogs. Well, now I could get dogs if I wanted them, and I figured I could tolerate their barks since they were family. The house seemed in reasonable shape. It needed a good cleaning, but so did my house in the city. Walking toward the barn, I noticed one of the windows was open. I hoped the exposure to the elements hadn’t damaged what was inside. I saw no signs of deterioration when I entered. I saw no mold or fungi, although I didn’t know if I’d recognize those elements if they were present. The barn had two horse stalls, plus a common area where I imagined hay had been kept. I saw small dung pellets scattered on the floor. I guessed they were from one or more owls. I looked up at the rafters. I didn’t see any owls or other birds. Perhaps the owl or owls only came in at night, after they’d hunted during the day for mice or whatever else was on their diet.
By Dan Gollub4 years ago in Earth
Thoughts of foliage
Photinia lived above Windham Street on the wrong side of the crack. Whatever that meant? Time had moved on and had left the decor and the footings of 1977 for all to mock.
By Unique Monique4 years ago in Earth
The Benefits Of Desalination Systems
Water offers many benefits to people's lives and to the variety of things they use in their homes, work or businesses. However, we do not always get clean, clean water for personal, commercial, or industrial use. And this is why today we have water makers and seawater manufacturers, water purifiers and commercial desalination schemes to help us enjoy clean and safe drinking water in our daily lives.
By Paloolu Anand4 years ago in Earth
White owl or store owl
The white owl is one of the most attractive birds in this world. Its color that followed the serenity and its streamlined shape in the air made it one of the most famous deadly birds of the sky. There is no doubt that the Harry Potter series had a great role in this regard as well. The letter owl, which was a symbol of wisdom in it This bird has earned the love and respect of everyone, yet superstitions still surround the owl of stores, which has always served man.
By Samara Ben4 years ago in Earth
Prairie Grass and Ocean Waves
In January 1996, we moved from our home on the Mississippi gulf coast to the frigid high plains of Montana. As we pulled into our new home all I could think of was how cold I was. I was born and raised in Florida where walking on the beach was a year-round event. My husband growing up in Illinois knew what cold was and having been all over the world with the Navy knew what to do. He told me to wear layers, and I had not a clue what he meant. A layer in Florida is a velvety chocolate cake, or a t-shirt over your bathing suit, but in Montana it is life or death.
By Erika Wood4 years ago in Earth