December 16

In the early light of Sunday morning, I’m hiking along the east bank of the Pine River as it flows through Centennial Park in the village of Sumner. Overcast skies, temperature in the mid 30’s and a noticeable west wind surround me as I pause on the river’s edge to observe the over flowing water while comparing it to a scene from the spring of 2015 when I stood here. Heading north on a leaf-covered trail, I spot some dried Chinese lantern pods and watch wispy seeds of Clematis sway in the breeze. Nearby, while seeing no evidence of humans using a trailside bench, I see a squirrel found its way there. Next, my attention is captured by the sight and sound of babbling water. Up ahead on the ground, I notice the polka dot snow cover as well as the geometric shaped ice. Near the river’s edge, I look up to see floral buds on leafless branches of a Red Maple and look down to see a few red hips on a rose bush. Continuing north on the trail, I pause to scan the flooded mud flats while comparing this landscape to that which I observed in the spring of 2015. Following the trail as it looped back to the south, I thought of how it appeared again back in the spring of 2015. After passing a scraggly Red Cedar tree, the only conifer in the entire woods, I discover a few green plants on the ground including sedge and wild strawberry. The leaf litter shows evidence of hickory, maple and aspen. Making my way back to the car, I take one last look at this important natural resource and think about how we humans are contaminating its water. The main culprit seems to be animal waste from several factory farms that now occupy the county. Manure by the tons containing toxic E Coli bacteria is spread onto cropland that then drains into ditches and streams that feed the river. Another source of E. Coli are houses along the river with dysfunctional septic tanks and drain fields that seep into the watershed. Thank goodness, Alma College representatives as well as community activists along with state government officials are working hard to mitigate the pollution and restore the river.

Sunday silence

I hear your song

River called Pine

Take me along

Your sanctuary

Without a pew

Fields and forests

Carry me through

Bathe the boulders

Cleanse my mind

Nature’s blessings

I seek, I find

D. DeGraaf