in woods' shade,
cattle sit or stand, &
file barn-ward at dusk.
Empty Pasture [Haiku]
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Tag Archives: Heat
Summer Sunset [Senryū]
harsh summer sun sets:
baboon troops exit the woods,
"Yeah, you'd better run!"
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Crucible [Lyric Poem]
It was a dreary winter day;
The world was cold, monotone gray.
But then, I caught a hint of heat:
Felt on my face, not on my feet.
A furnace burned in a dark place.
I felt it flush my frigid face --
Frigid once, but not any more
I stood inside that foundry's door.
The orange glow danced on my face.
It must have shown demon's disgrace.
Like a poor creature lit on fire,
Or the living dead on a pyre.
Cold as the day and my feet were,
I heard a voice - just a whisper.
"You must flee now, or you'll jump in,
and they'll not find a fleck of shin."
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Heat Beating [Haiku]
sitting on a rock, feet dangling in the stream, thwarting summer heat.
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Dead-Eyed [Haiku]
Summer Sun [Haiku]
Cancun Limerick
The kids struck out for the white sands of Cancun, but to avoid throngs they went at high noon. A crowd, there was not. It was so freakin' hot that each and every last one of them swooned.
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BOOK REVIEW: Life at the Extremes by Frances Ashcroft
Life at the Extremes by Frances AshcroftMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazon.in Page
Anyone interested in the limits of human physiology will find this book fascinating. Technically, its subject matter is broader than that, considering the environmental limits of living creatures, generally. However, all but the last chapter focuses on how humans react to (and adapt to) extreme conditions. Chapters one through six explore the challenges and limitations of humans under extreme conditions of elevation (ch. 1,) of pressure [underwater] (ch. 2,) of heat (ch. 3,) of cold (ch. 4,) of intense physical activity [running-centric, but deals with strength and power as well] (ch. 5,) and in space (ch. 6.) Then, each chapter reflects upon examples of species that are extremely well-adapted to said conditions, and why. (e.g. After learning about how and why humans have to acclimate to survive high elevation treks, one learns about the bar-headed goose, a bird that can go from sea level to flying over Everest – all in the same day.)
The final chapter (ch. 7) is a bit different in that it discusses extremophiles, creatures that can survive in a wide range of conditions (e.g. acidity, temperature, lack of moisture, lack of oxygen, etc.) that would be certain death not only for humans but for any animals. Most of the species discussed are either single-celled creatures or tiny multi-cellular life (e.g. Tardigrades.) With respect to humans, there is a discussion of the limits and present understanding of suspended animation.
This book offers an intriguing look at life at the extremes. While written by a Professor of Physiology, it’s highly readable for a general audience. It mixes narrative examples in with the discussion of physiology to make the material approachable and engaging. I’d highly recommend this book.
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Tropical Chill [Haiku]
feet to cold stone - despite the tropical heat, a chill is felt
Tiger Riding for Beginners 