It is my distinct pleasure to introduce my cousin and friend, Mr. Duane Hunt. In addition to being an expert in genealogy, Duane has a wonderful knack for composing poetry and prose at a moment’s notice. Today, I am delighted to share a newly written, previously unpublished work of his, presented with his full permission.
Duane and I hail from the same small town of Bear Lake, in the northwest lower peninsula of Michigan. Though he was a few grades ahead of me in high school—far enough apart that we weren’t close friends back then—I remember him fondly as a very studious and kind young man.
Life has a funny way of bringing people together. Over four decades later, here we are: adult friends connected through social media and shared interests. Unexpected kindness and surprising affinities are things I hold much dearer now than I did in my youth. I hope you enjoy Duane’s writing as much as I do!
Whirl‑a‑Gigs and Watching Cats
A gusty breeze stirs the afternoon,
and suddenly the air is full of dancers—
whirl‑a‑gigs twirling like tiny acrobats,
each one catching a shard of sunlight
and flinging it wildly on the way down.
My cats freeze into feline catatonia,
noses pressed to the glass,
eyes wide as if the world has cracked open
into a storm of spinning miracles.
Their tails twitch with ancient hunting dreams
they’ll never quite fulfill.
And I smile—
because once, that was me out there,
chasing those pleasanton maple seeds
as they helicoptered toward the earth,
believing I could catch the wind itself
if I just ran fast enough.
Today, I’m grateful
for eyes still open to small wonders,
for a heart that knows how to receive them,
and for the quiet joy
of a childhood memory returning
on the wings of a falling seed.
(Duane Hunt — June 15, 2026)
Whirl‑a‑Gigs and Watching Cats
Copyright © 2026 Duane Hunt. All rights reserved.
Published exclusively on Maria’s Musings: Tales My Heart Tells with direct permission from the author.
Copyright © 2009-2026 by Maria Appleby for Maria’s Musings: Tales My Heart Tells. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2026 by Duane Hunt for “Whirl-A-Gigs and Watching Cats” All Rights Reserved.
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