August 2nd 2009

    In several languages the word "doodoo" refers to insects in general.  Size, color, winged or hopping, doesn't matter.  Amongst English speakers "doodoo" refers to the product of bowel movement, and sometimes is found amongst the work of song writers reaching for rhythms for which there is no other word. 

    In my view it is the parts of sound that produce a color in the mind.  "D" is an instructional color.  And to my mind "doodoo" expresses the nature of insect well.  But because "doodoo" is put to different use by those with other preoccupations, I find myself rarely uttering the word "doodoo" for fear of presenting myself as half-baked and anal to anyone who might be in ear shot.

    In my world, however, this is doodoo season.  Despite the rains, they are in wonderful form.  Nights are aloud with their call, and days are alive with their movement.  King Birds, and all those others that feed upon insects have adopted the lethargy that plenty brings.  They sit on fence posts and electric wires picking and choosing like princesses at banquet.

    In the garden, the toads are fat and happy.  They were there this morning to judge my weeding and amongst the eggplant there is an older toad who repeatedly hopped toward me when I got too close.  It was a suggestion, I thought, of that territorial entitlement that plenty often brings.  Greed and foolishness.  A subtlety of behavior that a doodoo is not prone to, because in his view everyday is all or nothing.

    A confluence of "D" here that some might find worrisome.

tim candler

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