Bill Pendergraft

The Preacher

I lived alone in Vermont, among thousands of acres of forest in the Northeast Kingdom. I was unlikely to see another person, however deer and bear would amble through and there was the nightly call of the barred owl. One companion was always on the same maple branch, always singing: the red-eyed vireo. I could plainly hear him. Often called The Preacher, his song was clear, repetitive, and tireless like the ring of a summoning bell. Hearing his call, I thought of E.O. Wilson and our loss of natural diversity; my companions calling for me to pay attention.

summers in the beech
our natural companions                    
fewer voices heard

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About the Author

Bill Pendergraft founded Environmental Media in 1988 to write and produce environmental education content for not-for-profit and public organizations. His second book of poetry, Love in the Age of Loneliness, will be published in November of 2024. He lives in the forests of Caledonia County, Vermont.

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