THE SWALLOW AND THE FLY
by
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PREFACE Recently I experienced the ordeal of down-sizing. I moved from a four bedroom, three bath house with a two car garage, to a two bedroom, two bath apartment. Now that it’s over I find it to be very refreshing. It’s a good feeling to have lightened my load. It took several weekends and nearly half a dozen friends, two dumpster loads, a couple dozen trips to the local charity and a junk hauler. There were boxes in the garage that hadn’t been touched in the six plus years that I lived there with my son. Everything was sorted and squared away. When I first moved into the apartment there were three Swallow’s nests on the balcony. Initially, I thought it was good luck. I enjoyed watching them swarm. But they were messy and sometimes aggressive – they also happen to be endangered. Their presence on the balcony began to feel like a bit of an invasion. I wasn’t truly able to enjoy that feature of my new place. The truth is however, the apartment complex, built a few years prior, invaded their little habitat along the river. Before the maintenance staff could take the nests down, they had to be “inactive.” So, I read and researched and shopped which led to the purchase of some reflective tape called “Bird- Be-Gone.” It was like glittery streamers that I tied to the rail of the balcony I worked – except for two courageous males that returned. Upon conveying my Swallow ordeal to a friend, she ordered me an owl decoy. We named him Darious after the singer Darious Rucker of the band Hootie and the Blowfish. I set about attaching Darious to the rail and alas the Swallows were gone and the nests having been abandoned, were able to be removed. There are several remaining Swallow’s nests on the building. So, I still watch them as they soar, flit and fly by. And I watched as they would snatch up any flying insect that dared to cross their path. This was my inspiration for the opening poem and the title for this collection of poetry. So, now I coexist with the Swallows. I watch them catching flies and life is good. ________________________________________ THE SWALLOW & THE FLY The swallow said To the fly As he flew by I have to eat you So – goodbye
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About the Book
Gently but firmly, The Swallow & the Fly illustrates how life is meant to be cherished. Lisa Shultz writes to heal as she paints hope-filled scenes and describes courageous moments. In the poem “A Little,” Shultz stands tall as she observes how “The world seems to be / Falling apart,” only to declare that she’s “determined / To keep it together” for herself and for others. In the eighty plus poems that swoop like swallows down these pages, she captures truth as if it rides on the back of a fly. Shultz urges readers to “Forge a pathway” as she faces the loss of a loved one and times “to let go” and “Let others think / What they may.” Time and place, summer and the planets—along with a few tulips—provide occasions to celebrate. Shultz praises her companions—a blue heron, goldfish, apple slices. Not unlike William Carlos Williams, who stressed the importance of “a red wheel / barrow,” Shultz notes how a bonsai manages “To lean so gracefully,” adding harmony to the world through its conformity “To the strictest / Aesthetic standards.” Just so, such poems will reward readers of The Swallow & the Fly. Margaret Koger, author of What These Hands Remember and If Seasons Were Kingdoms.
About the Author
Lisa was born into a farm family with very deep roots in Colorado. Her brother and his son are the fourth and fifth generation to work the family place. Growing up on a working farm, felt like growing up in the middle of nowhere. But that wasn’t all bad. As a 4-H member, she rode horseback and raised other livestock for the annual county fair. There was a lot of open space for a kid to explore. The youngest of four, her brother was usually working with her dad. Her sisters, a good bit older, were not tomboys. Consequently, she spent a lot of her exploration time solo. This alone time allowed for her to interact with nature, the birds on the power lines, the water in the streams and irrigation ditches, pheasants, frogs and of course her beloved horses. Her equine love began with a Shetland Pony. Her folks would saddle her up and place two-year-old Lisa on the back of the pony and walk her around the barnyard. But, when the time came to end the fun, the only way to get her off the horse was to take her off along with the saddle. The inspiration she drew from her alone time on the acreage led her, at an early age, to begin writing poetry. As an adult, Lisa’s love of nature continues as does her writing. She draws inspiration however from more than the natural world, she also writes about spiritual topics, relationships, current events, love and loss. This is her third published collection. Each collection has been richer and deeper. Lisa lives in Boise, Idaho. She enjoys walks along the Boise River, attending live music, dramatic and film performances and spending time with friends.