Opinion
The sun began setting at 4:11 p.m. on Dec. 2 and will continue to say good night, locked down at this same time, until next Friday. On Saturday, Dec. 15, bedtime for daylight nudges forward to 4:12 p.m. Not a major shift, and yet for many a reason to celebrate. The days are getting longer, even before the winter solstice arrives. It is as if the Vineyard hungered for light so deeply it couldn’t wait until the official day. In truth, it is latitudinal characteristics that tell the tale rather than desire setting the agenda.
A few weeks ago I was making coffee when I heard what sounded like a stunned owl hoo-ing for help. Sounded as if he might be trapped behind a storm door or in a room on the other side of the house. As I got closer to a closed door, I realized the sound was emanating from my soulful wife, sitting in her office, chanting along with some psalm playing on her laptop, ear buds blocking out the world. Paula was practicing for the Island Community Chorus — her first time as a participant. Soon our house became a repository of the stuff that haunts the poems of Poe and the books of Oliver Sacks.
I was worried. What had I gotten myself into? I was moving to Martha’s Vineyard to become a deejay on WMVY. I knew about WMVY. I knew its prestigious standing within the radio world. I knew that joining their staff would be a big professional leap for me. But something I heard on the air immediately told me that I was going to fit in just fine.
At dusk, one by one,
hundreds of gulls fall
out of the leaden sky
onto the lake, already
beginning to close
its lid for winter.
We call them
by their names,
recognize bill color,
molt, age, species —
see everything
but living beings —
finding their spots
for the night, calling out
to kin, to neighbors.
Afloat on freezing waves,
they turn together
into the north wind.
While, on shore, wrapped
in down coats, hats and gloves,
Last Friday we had the annual Family to Family Thanksgiving meal distribution at the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven.
After reading the recent report of a dog shooting in West Tisbury I am troubled by our state law that allows the owner of a chicken the legal right to kill another individuals family pet for killing, or even worse, for “worrying” a chicken.
I have lived on the Vineyard for 28 years and have read numerous stories over the years regarding dogs killing chickens. If my memory serves me correctly, it was usually the same dog repeating the offense and an irresponsible dog owner allowing this to happen over and over.