In sights

April 23, 2015 by Created by RCW

Sad hooded eyes

Look me over,

Stare into me,

Searching my soul

For empathy,

A kindred spark,

Recognition

That we are one.

Lives held sacred,

Spirits unchained

Despite coiled wire.

Acknowledgement,

We’re each encaged,

Trapped by limits,

Captive of views

Held by others;

Defining us,

Confining us,

Refining us

To imagery;

A dull shadow

Of former selves,

Bleeding vibrance

To worlds of grey.

But hope remains,

The spark still burns;

Words unspoken

Continue tales

Yet unwritten.

Share my story

Of wilds now gone

That glow in eyes

Hooded and sad.

Gardens and Zoo, High Park, Toronto

September 13, 2014 by Created by RCW

Aside from the more natural wilderness of Grenadier Pond, High Park is also home to beautiful gardens and a small zoo of various hoofed animals.

: Park planners have engineered a beautiful terraced garden

: Water falls quietly along the grade of a hill of many colours

: Snails, I am used to…this was the first slug I’d seen in my Toronto journeys

: A squirrel lies quietly, its tail as a blanket

: Not just for breakfast, rhubarb forms a colourful display

: Calm, the bison keeps a wary eye on the guests

: Sometimes you don’t have the strength to hold your head up

: A quick nap on a lazy afternoon

: School groups take tours through the gardens, learning about flora and fauna

Zoo Story – New York

September 21, 2013 by Created by RCW

A few photos I took while traveling through the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan back in 2011…my previous camera and unedited, so not as good as more recent images, but I like them just the same.

: A pond of seals, if I remember correctly

: Unlike the other zoo denizens, this one is welcome to leave

: One of the myriad ducks in the park

: And more…

: And more…

: Checking me out checking him out

: Not a great shot, but I love the bubbles left by the diving penguin

: Ready for winter

: Not sure if it’s too cold to go hunting for snacks

: A terrible shot, but it looks like he’s waiting for a bus

: Half-chicken, half-peacock

: The racket these guys made was amazing

: Just one of the local hippie freaks

: Just a little closer…

: Bright green stands out no matter how well hidden

: Not sure if this was Riki Tiki Tavi

: Not sure if this is supposed to make the cats happy or the birds worried

In their eyes – Toronto Zoo

March 11, 2013 by Created by RCW

I don’t know if we have souls. But if we do, I have trouble believing only humans have souls.

There is depth and understanding in the eyes of other creatures, whether I put it there or a higher power did.

I spent some time at the local zoo last year and these are some photos that felt particularly powerful to me. Feel free to provide your own insights on what they are thinking, feeling.

She lay there next to her sleeping mother, curious about the animals beyond the cage and ignoring the odd one through the plexiglas.