On our walk to school this week, my son and I spotted a woodpecker frantically tapping at the metal cap at the top of a telephone pole. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in that feathered head – he must’ve noticed that he wasn’t making a dent in the metal cap, or that it felt different from his usual wooden tree trunks. Still, he kept tapping, tapping, tapping, never stopping, as if unwilling to quit until he’d made a hole and found those grubs.
As is often the way with poetry, this haiku sprang unbidden into my mind – a snapshot of an endless battle between man and nature, between flesh and metal, neither side willing (or able) to yield.
This past week has been exhausting, with a number of patrons coming into the library requiring high levels of support. As I’m sure you’re aware, the library has become the place to go when you have nowhere else to turn – we help people with a wide range of needs, trying to fill gaps created by ongoing cuts to services across the region. It’s meaningful work, and rewarding and the feeling of being able to push back just a bit against the tide of hate provides some solace in these hard times. But it’s also exhausting, to be faced with so much need, and it can leave you feeling not unlike the woodpecker, banging its head against a metal cap.
I hope your week has been less brain-rattling than that of the woodpecker, though since most of my Poetry Friends are American, I doubt that’s the case. Things feel heavy here in Canada (thanks to ongoing threats from our much larger, more powerful neighbour), but I can only imagine how frightening, upsetting and downright infuriating it must be to be an American with any decency right now, watching their country descend into madness. You all have my most profound sympathy.
Oof, this post ended up a bit heavier than I thought it would – at least it’s the weekend! Be sure to check out this week’s Poetry Friday host, Denise at Dare to Care.
What a good photo of that pileated woodpecker! I like your poem about him very much; I feel much the same way. A lot of tapping but getting nowhere. It’s all part of the process, I suppose!
Stunning photo and haiku, Jane. Hope you have a more relaxing weekend. I can barely listen to the news anymore. Every day it seems something worse happens. Thanks for your concern.
Jane, all I can say is: I am sorry. So sorry. I can’t justify anything that is happening right now. I can’t understand how anyone could have voted for our current president and not anticipated the utter chaos, bullying, and insanity that has ensued. Every single person should have seen it coming. I feel that we don’t deserve your empathy, but I appreciate it all the same. : ( Many people are pushing back as best we can, let’s hope it is enough to preserve some decency.
I am feeling so much the same, Jane, & you wrote it beautifully, catching a lesson from nature it often gives. I am sorry for the constant, seeming to escalate day by day!
I rather love the persistence of woodpeckers…I mean to be born with such a tool at one’s disposal…how satisfying all that tapping must be! Thank you, Jane.
Thanks for your post and sympathy, Jane. Lately my head feels like it’s being hammered on constantly with lies and hatred coming from our government and our leaders’ supporters. It is a scary time to be a US citizen, and life feels upended.
Also, it is a hard time to be a librarian for so many reasons, I’m sure. And the job description of a librarian has changed so much. Libraries have long been a place of refuge. But the more divided our societies (though I realize that Canada is not nearly so divided as the US!), and the fewer resources available, I feel like many librarians now have to also function almost as social workers or caseworkers. Not probably what they expected when they chose this career path. Hugs to you, and thank you for all the gifts you give your community!
Love this haiku. We’ve been bothered by a woodpecker that likes our neighbor’s gutters. I swear it sounds like a mini jackhammer.
Thanks for sharing!
Your photo is gorgeous and I love how you tied this glorious bird to the American struggles. I haven’t thought about how libraries are considered a source of support especially now. I think it’s good to acknowledge all your feelings and your post has joy in it too. Thank you, Jane.
Bird will not yield to man…
Poor wee head! I hope he gives up soon. They’re sometimes the most stubborn little creatures…
Jane, I can relate to what you’ve captured here of youe woodpecker so nicely done. Things can indeed feel futile of late, but we persevere, yes? And yes, “frightening, upsetting, and downright infuriating” sums it up. If only the whole world were like a library.
Beautiful haiku and photo, Jane. As Rose said, it’s hard to listen to the news. In fact, I just told my husband I need to take a break from it. I like to be informed, but my anxiety grows every time I watch. My hope is that things will get better soon.
I don’t see my comment, but I love your haiku and photo.
We have some of those pileated peckers in our woods, too, Jane. And despite the hundreds and hundreds of trees, they sometimes are tap-tap-tapping on our metal chimney flashing. Maybe they’re making music? Bless you for your big librarian heart too!
Jane, thank you for this post, for your haiku is right on the money. How long will we have to push back “against the tide of hate”? I know this chapter will go down in our history books. I just hope I will live long enough to get on the other side. Peace to you, and may you have a restful weekend. Thank God for librarians and libraries.
Jane, your haiku and photo hold a great deal of thought within a few words. I am glad that you are supporting many of our thoughts about the situation here. It is great to have a neighbor that understands. Have a wonderful weekend.
The woodpeckers here are noisy as well! Hats off to you for doing the hard things in the library. I’m a school librarian but I’m ALWAYS so impressed by my public librarian friends. The support they provide to the community is amazing.
Woodpeckers are my favorites. I’ve seen downy, ladderback and red bellied lately, and I can only hope they do not yield. I can only hope that none of us do.