rebeca

Bird’s Eye View

With the sun beating down so early the moon was still showing and with the faint smell of smoke from the Veterans Fire, the acrobats dangled from the Sundial Bridge. The Turkey Vultures, curious, hovered over them while the cliff swallows panicked. It is nesting season for them and their homes are under the bridge,Continue reading “Bird’s Eye View”

Magical Animal Husbandry

For an entire week he blocked traffic going both ways. Everyone already late for work, we exited our cars to lure him over to one of us, but every time we tried, he’d run closer to Highway 299, the two lane windy road which is the only way to Eureka from here. I was finallyContinue reading “Magical Animal Husbandry”

Fear of Fire

A red-shoulder hawk screeching woke me at noon. It is breeding time after all. I only ever hear two hawks at a time, but there’s three. I’ve seen them circling the yard. Probably two males courting the female. I checked my phone and I had a text from my secret lover of a thousand years.Continue reading “Fear of Fire”

a burning question was answered

The fire came swooping down from the west, meeting the swimming pool and splitting in two. What burned and what was spared is still a mystery. The house I now own was not spared. It burned to the ground in three minutes flat. I’d like to think it burned for me, that while I satContinue reading “a burning question was answered”

The Bears and Wolves

When you called I was sleeping. It confused me to hear your voice. It was 1:42, I was drunk asleep and dreaming when you called. My pain was raw and exposed. I railed you for treating me how you do, but you always have an excuse You were saved the by the Good Book, IContinue reading “The Bears and Wolves”

I’m a little less haunted these days

January 28th came and went without incident. Without notice. I thought The Cowboy’s ghost would come and haunt me on this the anniversary of me having ghosted him, but if he did, I didn’t even notice. So much has happened since then, and yet nothing at all has. Since then, I have become kind ofContinue reading “I’m a little less haunted these days”

I told myself, that for the birds…

C texts me back, “You must be braver.” He’s referring to me not giving a like to a stranger’s comment I saw on an acquaintance’s Instagram post about writers’ backing out of the AWP conference in Kansas City because the AWP will not declare themselves Pro Palestine and denounce Israel. The stranger’s post is aContinue reading “I told myself, that for the birds…”

If fear of the night is a measure for loneliness…

Morning comes and the animals lick me awake. They’ve tired of dreaming and want to eat and play. But I’m never ready to wake up. The night is my favorite and I hate to see it go. Dreaming is my favorite and I hate to see it end. When night comes I feel safe andContinue reading “If fear of the night is a measure for loneliness…”

The Olive Weed

The plant began to grow in a potted Plumeria I had bought in San Pedro and brought back to the house in Fullerton. I had placed the Plumeria in the front porch beneath one of the 70 year-old Olive Trees which lined the front of the house. Did I mention that I recently found outContinue reading “The Olive Weed”

counting lovers like sheep

Fall migration has started, hushing whatever was screaming inside me to a stop. Birdsong has that power over me. I spend my days tending to my plants and my rescue animals fully embracing my solitude, knowing that at last I’m done with the outside world. I have dozens of juvenile Western Bluebirds and them growingContinue reading “counting lovers like sheep”