High Hopes

It’s been two weeks since Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc across North Carolina’s coastal plain and communities, where recovery operations continue. Our one-inch rainfall in the wake of the tropical system has had minimal impact on drought conditions.

A strong high pressure ridge has settled in and much-needed rain seems to be at least a fortnight away. On a positive note, the southerly air flow around the ridge brings early-autumn daytime highs in the 70s with lows in the 50s. 

Woodlands behind our home sport first blushes of autumn finery in joyous anticipation of the autumnal equinox three days hence. Here in the eastern reaches of the Piedmont Plateau, humanity holds high hopes autumn colors signal wet and cool weather ahead.

© Ilija Lukić 2019 

High Hopes
(Powell Place woodlands in Pittsboro, North Carolina USA)

Perfect Disorder - Hurricane Dorian

For nearly a fortnight Hurricane Dorian gives pause to daily routine and allows me to ponder how interconnected Earth ecosystems achieve balance. Consider the multitude of variables which birth tropical waves over West Africa, then shepherd that perfect disorder of the status quo across vast expanses of the Atlantic. At crossing’s end some Caribbean islands, the Bahama Archipelago and southeastern United States coastal communities suffer the wrath of said tropical system, while most inland areas escape damaging winds, storm surges and flooding rains. Here modest rainfall from outlier storm bands revives parched farmlands, restores watercourses and improves comfort levels of human populations. I reflect on the good and bad in the wake of upheaval and concede that perfect disorder generated by hurricanes is necessary to achieve and maintain balance in the natural world.

Disorder born of breath from Saharan realms
Shepherds hurricane chasing perfect balance,
To restore Haw River edged by hardy elms
And kayakers on quests of meaningful essence.

© Ilija Lukić 2019

Perfect Disorder
(Haw River near Bynum, North Carolina USA)