Scarecrow Sees
Da Vinci maintained that sight relies on the eye’s
central line, yet the threads holding my
ocular buttons in place weave through four
holes and terminate in a knot. My flying friends
perceive light in a combination of four colors,
unlike the farmer, who blends only three. The
octopus knows black and white but blushes
to escape predators, while I remain fixed,
evading no one. Certainly my sense is more
vision than sight, and not the result of nerve
fibers routing light. Crows choose colors
when asked, but a certain shade of yellow
eludes them. And who would hear, above
the flock’s clamor, my claim to see this world
as it is? Grayscale, monochrome, visual
processing and perceptual lightness measures
mean little to one whose space accumulates
in uncertain increments – what is a foot to an
empty shoe? If I painted, which hues would
prefer my attempts, which would distract or
invade my cellulosic cortex, resulting in
fragmentation or blindness? Fear is not
limited to the sighted alone. I look out over
the field and perceive the harmonious
interaction of soil and root, leaf and sun,
the beauty of atmospheric refraction and
the wonder sprouting daily around me. Then
as one entity the crows explode into the blue,
leaving me alone with the shivering stalks,
questioning my place and purpose, awaiting
the next stray thought, a spark, a lonely
word creeping through this day’s demise.
This was written during the August 2015 Tupelo Press 30-30 Challenge, and was published by The High Window in December 2016.
I always enjoy Scarecrow’s observations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Merril. Scarecrow has been rather quiet lately, but I hope he makes an appearance sometime soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know, Bob, I don’t see too many scarecrows around here but I will never look at them the same again! I love how you so personably show us the world from “his” perspective!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha. I do enjoy Scarecrow’s perspective. He’s more innocent and much wiser than I!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scarecrow has certain limitations, granted, but “sense more vision than sight” seems to me an enviable advantage … especially when stuck in one place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve often wished to have such vision!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And what is the empty shoe without it’s foot?
Scarecrow is observant, as always. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are days when I feel like a shoe, and days when I feel like the foot…
LikeLiked by 1 person