So, You Look At Those Captains And Then At Yourself And You Wonder: “Why Them, And Not Me?” As You Paddle Along In Your Pitiful Art

So, you look at those captains and then at yourself and you wonder: “Why them, and not me?” As you paddle along in your pitiful state, a canoe you hope no one will see. But there’s just enough room for those trusted to you for safe passage, provisions, and tare. So, you keep to yourself, and you follow the shore, making passage for those in your care.
So, you look at those captains and then at yourself and you wonder: “Why them, and not me?” As you paddle along in your pitiful state, a canoe you hope no one will see. But there’s just enough room for those trusted to you for safe passage, provisions, and tare. So, you keep to yourself, and you follow the shore, making passage for those in your care.
Now, those captains must learn what the river will do when it makes that great turn out of sight. How it dashes them up on the rocks of the shore How it spins to the left and the right. It beats them and breaks them and crushes their pride Leaves them dizzy and sick and all jumbled inside ‘til they’ve all but forgotten that glorious ride lying flat on their deck in the sun. There they lie, drying out in the sun. As you round the point where the river was bent and survey the great wideness ahead, you can see all those captains alone on their decks, beat and broken and very near dead. Then the current takes hold and there’s naught you can do as it drags you down into its maw. Headed straight for those rocks, you make ready to crash but at last, you rise up, roll and yaw. Going back and away, then forward again, fearing each time, the rocks will prevail! You’re trapped in a cycling, circling tide, in an eddy withstanding a gale. But each time you circle that great whirling tide and you’ve not hit the rocks or been thrown to the side and you’re kept from the falls, cascading and wide, for the eddy’s small mercy give praise. Give the merciful currents your praise!
Now, those captains must learn what the river will do when it makes that great turn out of sight. How it dashes them up on the rocks of the shore How it spins to the left and the right. It beats them and breaks them and crushes their pride Leaves them dizzy and sick and all jumbled inside ‘til they’ve all but forgotten that glorious ride lying flat on their deck in the sun. There they lie, drying out in the sun. As you round the point where the river was bent and survey the great wideness ahead, you can see all those captains alone on their decks, beat and broken and very near dead. Then the current takes hold and there’s naught you can do as it drags you down into its maw. Headed straight for those rocks, you make ready to crash but at last, you rise up, roll and yaw. Going back and away, then forward again, fearing each time, the rocks will prevail! You’re trapped in a cycling, circling tide, in an eddy withstanding a gale. But each time you circle that great whirling tide and you’ve not hit the rocks or been thrown to the side and you’re kept from the falls, cascading and wide, for the eddy’s small mercy give praise. Give the merciful currents your praise!
Digital Art Style, Romanticism Art Style, a profoundly joyful and beautifully vibrant painting inspired by Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." The scene features a pair of exquisitely detailed Peach-faced Lovebirds, with their iconic bright peach faces, vivid green bodies, and touches of blue on their rumps. They are perched affectionately close together on a blossoming branch, their expressions conveying deep contentment and joy. Behind them, a softly glowing, ethereal 'path' of light winds gently through a lush, vibrant, and abundant natural landscape, illuminated by a warm, radiant, divine light that bathes the entire scene. The environment is rich with blooming flowers and verdant foliage, suggesting a place of eternal pleasure and divine presence. Focus intently on the vibrant, luminous colors of the Lovebirds, their tender, joyful interaction, and the glowing, symbolic 'path of life' that permeates the harmonious and blissful atmosphere
Out where the river runs wild and free and only the brave dare row; where the rapids are deep, and the challenge is fresh and it takes them where it means to go. With breakneck speed, grinning into the wind, standing straight on the bow of their craft, just a glimpse now and then of those captains you’ll catch flying by, near capsizing your raft. They’ve no time for advice to those standing on shore or to aid the ones just wading out, for their task is to pilot this current, they think, and it’s all they can do to stay out of the drink, and their lives could be gone in the space of a wink should they lose but a moment to doubt. Standing tall, they never must doubt!
Out where the river runs wild and free and only the brave dare row; where the rapids are deep, and the challenge is fresh and it takes them where it means to go. With breakneck speed, grinning into the wind, standing straight on the bow of their craft, just a glimpse now and then of those captains you’ll catch flying by, near capsizing your raft. They’ve no time for advice to those standing on shore or to aid the ones just wading out, for their task is to pilot this current, they think, and it’s all they can do to stay out of the drink, and their lives could be gone in the space of a wink should they lose but a moment to doubt. Standing tall, they never must doubt!
First century Jerusalem at the "gate beautiful" to the temple grounds. Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Place this text in the foreground of my newly generated Vintage Film Burn image… “Dawn, gentle, beginnings of a new day lighting our paths and illuminating our way…. I’ve always thought of you with love and warmth and hardly questioned why… always felt a special bond that’s led to years of friendship and smiles… I found in you the gentle spirit of a certain truth and could NOT look away because in you I saw proof…..of HIM…” Also include an image in the background of a soft sunrise seen over an ocean’s horizon A Dawn to Remember….by JPRussell
In days to come I stood amazed, walking through that forest, at the blazing symphony of color it brought forth, seemingly just for me. I grew to love my friend’s words in a new way, through the astounding beauty of the spectacle he knew was coming when he said them. I was young then, and didn’t know I had many autumns ahead of me.
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalms 24:9, KJV)
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed. The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow— Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball, And he sometimes goes so little that there’s none of him at all. He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way. He stays so close behind me, he’s a coward you can see; I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me! One morning, very early, before the sun was up, I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup; But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head, Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
A cosmic nebula
Fatuous
New York City
Fatuous
An Asian Slice At the dark end of an alley on a moonless night, A youth squats low to the ground, turned toward the wall with his face in his lap. Someone might think he’s sleeping. He’s smoking heroin. Soon he’ll fall over and soil himself, and stay right there until dawn. Back at the neon-lit mouth of this dark alley, hookers walk back and forth, hurrying to get past the alley, either for fear or because is smells so bad. Eyelids, all painted golden, Asian whores always look like they’re made of candy. Candy it is; but a snarling cat awaits its prey.
In days to come I stood amazed, walking through that forest, at the blazing symphony of color it brought forth, seemingly just for me. I grew to love my friend’s words in a new way, through the astounding beauty of the spectacle he knew was coming when he said them. I was young then, and didn’t know I had many autumns ahead of me.
Now, we’ll all have our time on the rapid And we may end together, alone, going ‘round and about in an eddy bruised and broken and soaked to the bone. But the eddy keeps silent the wild current’s call alongside those now grateful captains and all we are given reprieve from a death at the fall as we move to and fro’ in the spin. We stand safe, as the spin takes us in.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:39 KJV) Focus on graves opened and joyous youthful looking people coming forth.
A beautiful young woman with fair skin, light brown hair styled in a braid, and rosy cheeks stands outdoors in front of a rustic stone and ivy-covered building. She is wearing a simple, practical light brown dress with an apron-style overlay, suggestive of a farm setting. Her right arm is extended, and she is wearing a dark leather glove on her hand, upon which a messenger pigeon has just landed. The pigeon is a classic racing pigeon type, with iridescent green and purple neck feathers, and it has its wings slightly spread as if in the act of landing or adjusting. A small message capsule or scroll is clearly visible attached to one of its legs. The woman looks slightly upwards and to the right with a soft, warm expression, her lips slightly parted, as if acknowledging the pigeon or looking towards the message. In the background, to the right, is a picturesque green landscape under a bright sky with scattered clouds, featuring rolling hills, a small, distant stone building, and what appears to be an old cannon or piece of artillery, hinting at a historical wartime context. The overall lighting is warm and natural, creating a serene yet significant atmosphere.
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and 2 young Victorian well dressed ladies looking out with expressions of joy, wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and 2 young Victorian well dressed ladies looking out with expressions of joy, wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and 2 young Victorian well dressed ladies looking out with expressions of joy, wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with a middle aged Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and 2 young Victorian well dressed ladies looking out with expressions of joy, wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and a young happy Victorian well dressed lady looking out with expressions of wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with a middle aged Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and a young Victorian well dressed lady looking out with expressions of wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
A beautiful young woman with fair skin, light brown hair styled in a braid, and rosy cheeks stands outdoors in front of a rustic stone and ivy-covered building. She is wearing a simple, practical light brown dress with an apron-style overlay, suggestive of a farm setting. Her right arm is extended, and she is wearing a dark leather glove on her hand, upon which a messenger pigeon has just landed. The pigeon is a classic racing pigeon type, with iridescent green and purple neck feathers, and it has its wings slightly spread as if in the act of landing or adjusting. A small message capsule or scroll is clearly visible attached to one of its legs. The woman looks slightly upwards and to the right with a soft, warm expression, her lips slightly parted, as if acknowledging the pigeon or looking towards the message. In the background, to the right, is a picturesque green landscape under a bright sky with scattered clouds, featuring rolling hills, a small, distant stone building, and what appears to be an old cannon or piece of artillery, hinting at a historical wartime context. The overall lighting is warm and natural, creating a serene yet significant atmosphere.
Digital Art Style, Romanticism Art Style, a profoundly joyful and beautifully vibrant painting inspired by Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." The scene features a pair of exquisitely detailed Peach-faced Lovebirds, with their iconic bright peach faces, vivid green bodies, and touches of blue on their rumps. They are perched affectionately close together on a blossoming branch, their expressions conveying deep contentment and joy. Behind them, a softly glowing, ethereal 'path' of light winds gently through a lush, vibrant, and abundant natural landscape, illuminated by a warm, radiant, divine light that bathes the entire scene. The environment is rich with blooming flowers and verdant foliage, suggesting a place of eternal pleasure and divine presence. Focus intently on the vibrant, luminous colors of the Lovebirds, their tender, joyful interaction, and the glowing, symbolic 'path of life' that permeates the harmonious and blissful atmosphere
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with a middle aged Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and a young Victorian well dressed lady looking out with expressions of joy, wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring through the sky and beyond the confines of the chocolate factory. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with a middle aged Willy Wonka (wearing his iconic top hat, purple coat, and bowtie) and a young Victorian well dressed lady looking out with expressions of joy, wonder and excitement. The interior is filled with intricate buttons and levers for controlling its magical flight. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, perhaps bursting through the factory roof or ascending above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is visible – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, perhaps with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, or even glimpses of outer space and planets. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
An awe-inspiring and whimsical scene featuring Willy Wonka's Great Glass Wonkavator, soaring high above the chocolate factory and ascending into a fantastical sky. The Wonkavator itself is a magnificent, multi-directional glass elevator, transparent and sparkling, with Willy Wonka (in his iconic purple coat and top hat), young Charlie Bucket, and Grandpa Joe clearly visible and enjoying the ride inside. Wonka points excitedly, Charlie looks out with wide-eyed wonder, and Grandpa Joe grins with delight. The interior of the Wonkavator shows intricate, whimsical control panels. The Wonkavator is depicted in mid-flight, having just burst through the factory roof or rising above the clouds. Below it, the fantastical landscape of the Chocolate Factory is spread out – chocolate rivers, edible gardens, candy cane trees, and various whimsical buildings. Beyond the factory, a stunning, imaginative sky unfolds, filled with floating candy clouds, distant fantastical landmarks, and even glimpses of planets and stars. The lighting is bright and magical, emphasizing the glass's transparency and the vibrant colors of the world below and beyond. The overall mood is one of boundless adventure, limitless possibilities, and pure, joyful fantasy."
A young woman with timeless 1980s glamour, Cyndi Lauper-like look, sits at a small outdoor café table on a cliff overlooking a picturesque seaside town. She gazes over the town below as the sun rises, casting radiant hues of pink, orange, and teal across the rooftops and narrow streets. She has luminous pastel makeup, bright expressive eyes, and a stylishly teased hairstyle with vivid color streaks. Her outfit is eclectic and bold: layered accessories, a patterned jacket with neon accents, fingerless gloves, and whimsical jewelry sparkling in the morning light. On the table beside her rests a delicate porcelain coffee cup of fine Italian china, painted with intricate cobalt blue, gold, and crimson designs. From the cup, steam rises, transforming into miniature planets, glowing constellations, and swirling galaxies that drift upward like vapor into the sky above. The atmosphere is cinematic, luminous, filled with radiant tones, crisp clarity, and classic beauty, with no dark overlay.
An Asian Slice At the dark end of an alley on a moonless night, A youth squats low to the ground, turned toward the wall with his face in his lap. Someone might think he’s sleeping. He’s smoking heroin. Soon he’ll fall over and soil himself, and stay right there until dawn. Back at the neon-lit mouth of this dark alley, hookers walk back and forth, hurrying to get past the alley, either for fear or because is smells so bad. Eyelids, all painted golden, Asian whores always look like they’re made of candy. Candy it is; but a snarling cat awaits its prey.
An Asian Slice At the dark end of an alley on a moonless night, A youth squats low to the ground, turned toward the wall with his face in his lap. Someone might think he’s sleeping. He’s smoking heroin. Soon he’ll fall over and soil himself, and stay right there until dawn. Back at the neon-lit mouth of this dark alley, hookers walk back and forth, hurrying to get past the alley, either for fear or because is smells so bad. Eyelids, all painted golden, Asian whores always look like they’re made of candy. Candy it is; but a snarling cat awaits its prey.
A young couple with two children stand in front of a wall-sized world map, facing the map. The young father is pointing to somewhere in Africa. The young mother is wearing a backpack and one of the children is a baby that she's carrying in her arms.
A young woman with timeless 1980s glamour, Cyndi Lauper-like look, sits at a small outdoor café table on a cliff overlooking a picturesque seaside town. She gazes over the town below as the sun rises, casting radiant hues of pink, orange, and teal across the rooftops and narrow streets. She has luminous pastel makeup, bright expressive eyes, and a stylishly teased hairstyle with vivid color streaks. Her outfit is eclectic and bold: layered accessories, a patterned jacket with neon accents, fingerless gloves, and whimsical jewelry sparkling in the morning light. On the table beside her rests a delicate porcelain coffee cup of fine Italian china, painted with intricate cobalt blue, gold, and crimson designs. From the cup, steam rises, transforming into miniature planets, glowing constellations, and swirling galaxies that drift upward like vapor into the sky above. The atmosphere is cinematic, luminous, filled with radiant tones, crisp clarity, and classic beauty, with no dark overlay.
A young boy, no older than 12, is intensely focused on climbing a steep, rocky hillside in the San Juan National Forest, specifically along the Piedra River. He is scrambling upwards on his hands and knees towards a cougar watching him approach from behind a bush. He is carrying a fishing rod held securely in one hand. The hill is covered in dry dirt and scattered small rocks with ponderosa pines and aspen trees in the landscape. Far below, at the bottom of the hillside, a clear, meandering mountain stream (the Piedra River) sparkles under twilight. The atmosphere is quiet, tense, capturing the stark beauty of the remote Colorado wilderness.
A young boy, no older than 12, is intensely focused on climbing a steep, rocky hillside in the San Juan National Forest, specifically along the Piedra River. He is scrambling upwards on his hands and knees towards a cougar watching him approach from behind a bush above the boy. He is carrying a fishing rod held securely in one hand. The hill is covered in dry dirt and scattered small rocks with ponderosa pines and aspen trees in the landscape. Far below, at the bottom of the hillside, a clear, meandering mountain stream (the Piedra River) sparkles under twilight. The atmosphere is quiet, tense, capturing the stark beauty of the remote Colorado wilderness.
A young boy, no older than 12, is intensely focused on climbing a steep, rocky hillside in the San Juan National Forest, specifically along the Piedra River. He is scrambling upwards on his hands and knees. He is carrying a fishing rod held securely in one hand. The hill is covered in dry dirt and scattered small rocks with ponderosa pines and aspen trees in the landscape. Just ahead and slightly above him is a dense scrub oak). Behind this bush, the head of a cougar is visible, watching the boy. Far below, at the bottom of the hillside, a clear, meandering mountain stream (the Piedra River) sparkles under twilight. The atmosphere is quiet, tense, capturing the stark beauty of the remote Colorado wilderness.