Uh oh.

This is the view from the cabin of the smoke from the Angora Fire.

Winner

Brittany G., age unknown, from Jamaica Plain, MA sent this beautiful pen and ink on brown paper drawing of a recently emerged cicada.

Yesterday

About 5 hours ago I walked out to put my laundry in the washer (which is in the next room down the hall). I turned the machine on then quickly jogged back to the studio for the detergent but was stopped at the locked door. Without hope, I searched my pockets for my keys. My lack of hope paid off - no keys. *So my laundry was being washed without soap. I was in my swim trunks with no way back into the studio. I decided to search for my pals who had recently gone to the beach. Then I remembered that Chicago has miles of beach and I did not where the friends were. So I went to a bookstore but was in no mood to look at books. I went home, this time with hope, to see if anyone was home yet. Nope. So I went to the Italian deli to have a sandwich but they had just run out of bread. So I went to a café and ordered a chicken curry sandwich but they had just run out of chicken curry. I had a tuna sandwich. Then I read a book (It’s Not About the Bike) I found on the shelf at the café. After a while I went home but still couldn’t get in. So I went back to the café and read more of the book. The guy in the book had cancer but went on to be a great bike racer.
My pals were back from the beach on my next trip home.


*I borrowed soap from my friendly neighbor so the laundry was washed.

For the most part the cicadas have been out in the suburbs but today I saw and heard some in downtown Chicago.

Jeffery Pine

Where I come from smelling these trees is a favorite pass time. They smell delicious.

Here is a chorus of cicadas with an individual chiming in periodically. This one seems to have more to say than the previous cicada, or at least there is more urgency to its message. There is also the sound of an airplane flying over. You don’t realize how many planes fly by until you try to record a singing insect.

Ask a Cicada

This is what a cicada sounds like if you talk to just one. Well, listen to just one. You can't really talk to cicadas. You could but it wouldn't get you anywhere, right?

It might take a while to load but after waiting 17 years for this particular cicada to emerge, it wont seem so long.

Photo: Jennifer Beeman

Another Winner

This lovely drawing was sent to me from Mark N. I do not know where he is from.

Um.

All you other winners are now tied for second place. Congratulations Ken L. of Providence, Rhode Island.

Neil Diamond, You Won!

The following is from Neil Diamond:

Neil Diamond wants you to know Emily Kennerk, a personal "diamondized" friend is not a loser. On her behalf, I am sending a little known song by me. I only sing it once every 17 years to the track of "Kentucky Woman". (which is really Indiana Woman, but Kentucky sounded better)
All my love,
Neil

here it is..
Sung to: Neil Diamond “ Kentucky Woman” or "The Wheels on the Bus"

The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep.
The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
For seventeen years.
The cicadas in the ground go dig, dig, dig,
Dig, dig, dig, dg, dig, dig.
The cicadas in the ground go dig, dig, dig,
To come up to fresh air.
The cicadas in the trees go climb, climb, climb,
Climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb.
The cicadas in the trees go climb, climb, climb.
To come up to fresh air.
The cicadas in the trees go burst, burst, burst,
Burst, burst, burst, burst, burst, burst.
The cicadas in the trees go burst, burst, burst,
To get out of their shells.
The cicadas in the trees go sing, sing, sing,
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing, sing.
The cicadas in the trees go sing, sing, sing,
All day long.
The cicadas in the trees go lay, lay, lay,
Lay, lay, lay, lay, lay, lay.
The cicadas in the trees go lay, lay, lay,
New eggs in the trees.
The cicadas in the trees go hatch, hatch, hatch,
Hatch, hatch, hatch, hatch, hatch, hatch.
The cicadas in the trees go hatch, hatch, hatch,
And fall down to the ground.
The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep.
The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
For seventeen years.

Apology

I mistakenly called Emily Kennerck the first winner. She, as of this point, is still a loser. Emily Keller is the first winner of the Cicada Drawing Contest. I am sorry for the mistake. My editor has been fired.

Cicada Killer

Cicada Killer
Originally uploaded by Eric Yeadon

Uh oh. Be careful cicadas.

Two more winners!

The image on top, the painstakingly designed and painted book cover, was submitted by little Jason A. from Auburn California. Congratulations Jason, you won.
The other image comes to us from Steven F. from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Congratulations on winning this contest and on your recent retirement.

winner

Here we have instructions for cicada shadow puppets from Naomi S. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thank you for winning the first Cicada Drawing Contest. I look forward to your winning entry in 2024.