You needn’t know the names of various lichen species to appreciate them. Generally classified in three categories, they are crusty and two-dimensional, leaflike, or shrubby with lots of fine branching structures (like reindeer (moss) lichen). They grow incredibly slowly, up to half an inch a year and often much less. Though they get little respect for it, lichens are among the oldest living things on earth. Some are 5,000 or more years old.

Excerpt from “Looking at Lichens,” by David K. Leff

All week, waking early, and out early into the snow, still so powdery and swift and satisfying to ski through. I only get one picture today: the lichen petals on snow. It’s a fresh morning, white and quiet. I look forward to the morning poetry workshop, a sense of pleasure to be with poems and poets for two hours. Then, I am there. My poem first. Such great ideas and appreciation. I’m surprised about this poem. I drafted it, forgot it, found it by accident in a folder, and find it worthy of developing. Everyone’s poems today so stimulating and interesting and we have great conversation, and I’m grateful. The highlight of my day, however, is the ninety minute phone call on face time that I have with my son. It has been hard to connect lately, and he catches me at a free moment and we wander into so many areas, and I am so grateful to know what’s on his mind and in his heart. He’s excited about an idea based on my book about the keeping diaries for your children, as we approach the twentieth anniversary of its publication, and his excitement excites me. We will talk some more about it soon. I am juggling many projects, and need to sort out my priorities. In the late afternoon, with both daughters in the kitchen helping, I make a chicken parmesan dinner, for us, and a whole dinner for my sweet neighbors who have just had a baby, their third. Frank and I take it over, see the baby in the doorway. They are so pleased. We go home and enjoy our dinner with the girls in the lively evening.